Afghanistan: Education

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the high number of girls dropping out of education in Afghanistan.

Baroness Verma: The latest data from Afghanistan's Ministry of Education for 2010-11 show that boys and girls are dropping out of education on a permanent basis in nearly equal proportions (15 per cent for boys and 14 per cent for girls).
	In 2010-11, 5.7 million children attended school regularly. 2.1 million were girls (up from virtually none under the Taliban).
	The UK Government have placed the empowerment of girls and women at the heart of UK development policy; education is vital to this empowerment.

Afghanistan: Education

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the low numbers of female teachers on the number of girls attending school in Afghanistan.

Baroness Verma: Research by the Government of Afghanistan shows that the availability of female teachers is one of several factors-including security and access to education facilities-that impact on the number of girls attending school. The Government of Afghanistan's new National Priority Programme on Education for All includes commitments to build 200 secondary schools for girls; to construct school facilities with special features needed for girls (boundary walls and separate toilet facilities); and to expand community-based education activities to remote and un-served populations.
	The latest figures from the Afghan Ministry of Education for 2010-11 show that there were nearly 50,000 female teachers in general education, up from virtually none under the Taliban, representing 31 per cent of the total number of teachers.

Afghanistan: Explosive Devices

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to improve the way in which the United Kingdom deals with improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan.

Lord Astor of Hever: Success in Afghanistan is the highest priority in defence and countering the improvised explosive device (IED) threat is critical to making military progress in the campaign. We are completely focused on taking action to defeat this threat. We have deployed a counter-IED (C-IED) task force with the capability to detect, disable and exploit these devices and prevent them being laid. All troops receive comprehensive C-IED-specific training before they deploy to Afghanistan. A range of technologically advanced equipment is in service to counter the threat, including protected vehicles, remote control vehicles, ground surveillance, detectors and body armour. Enhancements to other critical capabilities-including military working dog capability-are being introduced. In addition, unmanned aircraft system capability has been significantly enhanced, and will be enhanced further, providing real time intelligence to track and target those who manufacture and plant IEDs.
	The range of C-IED skills, equipment, training and other capabilities employed by our Armed Forces in Afghanistan are widely recognised as being better than ever before; they are improving the safety of our forces-always our first concern-and improving their operational effectiveness. We will continue to invest in this area.

Africa: Police

The Lord Bishop of Hereford: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assistance they are providing to police forces in African countries.

Lord Howell of Guildford: Reform and modernisation of police forces across Africa is a key element of our efforts to deliver this Government's security and consular priorities abroad. An effective police force is crucial in post-conflict environments and in countries at risk of instability.
	The Government support police forces across Africa in a number of wide-ranging projects. They include training to combat terrorism, detect fraud, promote human rights, and provide policing equipment (eg radios and vehicles). Specific projects include: £20.6 million over a four year period to increase the effectiveness of the police and justice systems in Sudan; £60 million over five years for security sector accountability and police reform in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and £60,000 to support the development of a new community policing capability in Ghana.

Agriculture: Cattle Disease

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the prevalence of blood sweating disease in cattle.

Lord Henley: Bovine neonatal pancytopenia (BNP) is a novel haemorrhagic disease of young calves which has emerged in a number of European countries in recent years. This disease is also known as bleeding calf syndrome or blood sweating disease. The first British case of BNP was confirmed in a calf in Scotland in April 2009.
	Although it is possible to provide a very crude estimate of the prevalence of BNP in the British calf population, it is important to note that the true prevalence of this disease in British calves is unknown. There is no legal requirement for farmers to notify suspected cases of BNP to government veterinary authorities.
	Since early 2009, farmers have been encouraged to submit suspected cases of BNP to their local Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) or Scottish Agricultural College Veterinary Services (SAC VS) laboratory for investigation and diagnosis. Up until the end of July 2010, in order to provide farmers with an incentive to submit suspected cases for diagnosis, AHVLA and SAC VS carried out these investigations free of charge.
	As at 17 May 2011, AHVLA and SAC VS have confirmed 380 calf cases of BNP in Great Britain. In order to place this figure in context, the average number of calves in the at-risk age category (0 to 4-weeks-old) on British cattle farms during 2010 was 196,177 (Source: Rapid Analysis and Detection of Animal-related Risks Cattle Tracing System Database). These figures suggest that the prevalence of BNP in the British calf population is very low. However, it must be borne in mind that there may have been significant under-reporting of cases to AHVLA and SAC VS and its also possible that there are unrecognised subclinical cases (calves that are affected but do not show any obvious signs of disease) of BNP on British cattle farms.

Agriculture: Brassicas

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the cold weather in the United Kingdom on the production of brassicas.

Lord Henley: Defra officials are in regular communication with the industry, especially during difficult times, such as now, following the past winter's cold weather. Brassica growers are based across the country and grow a variety of different brassica crops. Consequently, the cold weather effects varied based on location, crop and where they were in their cropping cycle.

Agriculture: Fruit and Vegetables

Baroness Byford: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action plans they have to increase fruit and vegetable production.

Lord Henley: In August 2010, the Fruit and Vegetable Task Force published its report on increasing fruit and vegetable production and consumption and in October followed this with an action plan for industry, growers, retailers, wholesalers, NGOs and Government to take forward, working together to reduce barriers and find innovative solutions. We are continuing to take a close and positive interest in progress on the action plan. In May 2011, the Task Force on Farming Regulation reported on reducing the regulatory barriers facing farmers, including fruit and vegetable growers. The Government will respond later this year.
	The Government also provided funding of up to £7 million on research and development last year on horticultural crops.
	The Technology Strategy Board (TSB) is the UK's national innovation agency, with a goal of accelerating economic growth by stimulating and supporting business-led innovation. The TSB's new Innovation Programme on Agri-Food is now the key vehicle for collaborative funding in this area and is an exciting opportunity for the industry. The programme has up to £90 million over the next five years to encourage industry innovation, including up to £30 million from Defra for joint funding with industry. The first call has already been launched on the issue of crop protection.
	We are also encouraging increased consumption of fruit and vegetables with the 5 A Day Campaign, the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme and supporting projects to reconnect children and schools with farms and food production.

Agriculture: Genetically Modified Crops

Lord Hunt of Chesterton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in making contingency plans for the introduction of genetically modified organisms into use in agriculture in the United Kingdom, they intend to provide for zoning and other measures to allay public concerns about biodiversity.

Lord Henley: Under the European Union control regime, genetically modified crops will be authorised for commercial cultivation only if a robust assessment indicates that human health and the environment will not be compromised. We do not therefore expect that zoning or other measures would be required because crops which might have an adverse impact on biodiversity would not receive approval in the first instance.

Apprenticeships

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many employers in Greater London have offered apprenticeships in each year since 1992 until the last year figures are available.

Baroness Wilcox: Data from the published 2009 National Employer Skills Survey1 (NESS) show that in London Government Office Region, 5 per cent of employers2 offer apprenticeships. Based on weighted information using the NESS database3, it is estimated that this would approximate to between 11,000 and 12,000 establishments currently offering apprenticeships within the London region.
	The NESS report suggests that this at least in part reflects the fact that London has a lower share of industries that traditionally employ apprenticeships.
	1 Figure 8.7, P. 215 in https://ness.ukces.org.uk/Hidden%20 Library/NESS09/FINAL%20NESS%20Main%20report%20 for%20the%20web.pdf accessed on 13 May 2011.
	2 Employers in this survey are based at the establishment level and not at the enterprise level
	3 Figures are based on weighted information using the NESS 2009 database on the 24 May http://nessdata.ukces.org.uk/ness/KMS/News.aspx
	Table 1 below shows apprenticeship programme starts for London Government Office Region and England from 2003-04, the earliest year for which we have comparable data to 2009-10, the latest year for which we have final data.
	
		
			 Table 1: Apprenticeship Programme Starts by Government Office Region, 2003-04 to 2009-10 
			  2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-103 
			 London 11,900 12,400 11.000 11.100 14,500 17,200 20,300 
			 England Total 193,600 189,000 175,000 184,400 224,800 239,900 279,700 
		
	
	Source: Individualised Learner Record
	Notes
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. Geographic information is based on the home postcode of the learner.
	3. Figures for 2009-10 are based on the geographic boundaries of regions as of May 2010. Figures for 2003-04 to 2008-09 based on earlier geographic boundaries are available in the SFR Archive, but these cannot be directly compared with new figures due to boundary changes.
	Information on apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 31st March 2011 http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current

Arctic Council

Lord Jay of Ewelme: To ask Her Majesty's Government what were the results of the recent Arctic Council ministerial meeting.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The UK, in its capacity as a state observer, attended the Arctic Council's biennial ministerial meeting that took place in Nuuk, Greenland on 12 May 2011 with representation from all eight Arctic states.
	The key outcomes from the meeting included Arctic Ministers agreeing structural changes to the council, including a permanent secretariat (to be based in Tromso, Norway), an agreed budget, new communication/outreach arrangements and an intention to enhance the council's agenda. The Arctic Ministers also signed a search and rescue agreement which is intended to improve co-ordination between the Arctic states, and is the first legally-binding agreement negotiated by the council, and which provides the council with another approach to doing business in the future.
	Arctic Ministers also agreed a set of criteria for future applications for observers at the Arctic Council. This does not currently affect the UK's confirmed status as a state observer to the council, but the criteria will now be applied to new states seeking such status, including the outstanding applications from China, European Community, Italy, Japan and Korea.

Armed Forces: Accommodation

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many of the rooms at RAF Buchan are en-suite for (a) officers, (b) warrant officers and sergeants, and (c) other ranks.

Lord Astor of Hever: There is no en-suite accommodation at RAF Buchan for any ranks.

Armed Forces: Accommodation

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many of the rooms at RAF Barkston Heath are en-suite and how many are not for (a) officers, (b) warrant officers and sergeants, and (c) other ranks.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many of the rooms at RAF Benbecula are en-suite and how many are not for (a) officers, (b) warrant officers and sergeants, and (c) other ranks.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many of the rooms at RAF Boulmer are en-suite and how many are not for (a) officers, (b) warrant officers and sergeants, and (c) other ranks.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many of the rooms at RAF Brampton Wyton Henlow are en-suite and how many are not for (a) officers, (b) warrant officers and sergeants, and (c) other ranks.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many of the rooms at RAF Church Fenton are en-suite and how many are not for (a) officers, (b) warrant officers and sergeants, and (c) other ranks.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many of the rooms at RAF Cottesmore are en-suite and how many are not for (a) officers, (b) warrant officers and sergeants, and (c) other ranks.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many rooms at RAF Digby are en-suite and how many are not for (a) officers, (b) warrant officers and sergeants, (c) other ranks.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many rooms at RAF Donna Nook are en-suite and how many are not for (a) officers, (b) warrant officers and sergeants, (c) other ranks.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many rooms at RAF Fylingdales are en-suite and how many are not for (a) officers, (b) warrant officers and sergeants, (c) other ranks.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many rooms at RAF Halton are en-suite and how many are not for (a) officers, (b) warrant officers and sergeants, and (c) other ranks.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many rooms at RAF Holbeach are en-suite and how many are not for (a) officers, (b) warrant officers and sergeants, and (c) other ranks.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many rooms at RAF Honington are en-suite and how many are not for (a) officers, (b) warrant officers and sergeants, and (c) other ranks.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many rooms at RAF Kirton in Lindsey are en-suite and how many are not for (a) officers, (b) warrant officers and sergeants, and (c) other ranks.

Lord Astor of Hever: There is no accommodation, either en-suite or non en-suite, at RAF Barkston Heath.
	In view of the noble Lord's interest in this issue, I will place in the Library of the House a copy of the information drawn from the annual audit of RAF accommodation prepared in October last year which detail the en-suite and non en-suite accommodation available at all RAF stations.

Bahrain

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what communications they have had with the Government of Bahrain since the beginning of public protests there; what communications they intend to have with that Government in the near future; whether they are emphasising the importance of due process for all persons arrested; and whether they have received information about allegations of disappearances and the outcomes of relevant cases.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Government have had regular communications with the Government of Bahrain since the beginning of public protests, and these communications are ongoing.
	My right honourable friend the Prime Minister spoke by phone to King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on 15 March 2011 and met the Bahraini Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in London on 19 May 2011. On both occasions the Prime Minister expressed our concerns about the situation in Bahrain and stressed the importance of the Bahrain Government moving to a policy of reform rather than repression.
	The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), spoke to the Bahraini Foreign Minister on 17 February, 16 April and 25 May and raised the UK's concern about the human rights situation. He made clear our concerns about arrests, deaths in detention and moves to investigate prominent licensed, political opposition parties. He made clear that the civil rights of peaceful opposition figures, the legitimate exercise of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly should be respected.
	The Secretary of State for Defence, my right honourable friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox), spoke to the Crown Prince on 22 February 2011 and met the King and Crown Prince in Bahrain on 3 April 2011 and spoke to the King again on 16 May 2011, urging the Bahrain Government to create the environment in which dialogue can take place.
	The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, my right honourable friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt), spoke to the Bahraini ambassador by phone on 1 April 2011 and raised our concerns about human rights. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence, my noble friend Lord Astor of Hever, met the Crown Prince in Bahrain on 23 February 2011 and urged all sides, including opposition groupings, to engage in dialogue.
	Our ambassador has also regularly raised the UK's human rights concerns with Ministers across the Bahraini Government, including most recently with the Ministers of Justice, Interior and the Deputy Prime Minister. These include highlighting our concerns that due process should be followed and that those accused should have access to legal counsel and be tried before independent and impartial courts. The Defence Senior Adviser Middle East, Lieutenant General Simon Mayall, raised human rights with the Commander in Chief of the Bahrain Defence Force on 11 May 2011.
	We will continue to make our concerns clear to the Bahraini authorities.

Banking: Gender

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the success of the World Bank's gender mainstreaming policy.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the contribution of the International Development Association to the United Kingdom's development objectives with regard to gender.

Baroness Verma: The Department for International Development (DFID) has been supporting and reviewing the progress of the World Bank's Gender Action Plan (GAP 2007-10), the aim of which is to mainstream gender into the bank's operations, with a particular focus on women's economic empowerment.
	Our assessments have found that progress has been made in mainstreaming work on women's empowerment at the World Bank with, for example, a rise of approximately 20 per cent in the proportion of gender-informed projects, and significant public commitment has been made by President Zoellick with respect to gender equality. However, the multilateral aid review carried out by the Department for International Development (DfID) also highlighted the challenge of translating policy into results, and the need for the bank's performance to improve.
	At the last replenishment of the International Development Association (IDA 16) gender was chosen as a cross-cutting theme. Specific gender targets were established to ensure that IDA delivers concrete benefits to girls and women. And the World Bank's next world development report will focus on gender.
	At the World Bank spring meetings the Secretary of State sent a clear message to the bank that the report must demonstrate to policy makers and donors how to do things differently and deliver results for girls and women. DfID will follow up with the bank- both through engagement on the MAR and through monitoring the implementation of IDA 16-to ensure the bank delivers these important improvements.

British Tomato Week

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask the Chairman of Committees what the House of Lords Catering and Retail Services Department did to support British Tomato Week.

Lord Brabazon of Tara: Catering and Retail Services (CRS) did not run any special events to support British Tomato Week in 2011. However, CRS does support British Apple Week in October and will be supporting British Food Fortnight in September.

Burma

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what meetings they have held with United Nations humanitarian agencies regarding the potential humanitarian crisis in Burma following the breakdown of the ceasefire agreement.

Baroness Verma: The Department for International Development (DfID) has ongoing discussions with the United Nation Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs over the impacts that might arise from an increase in conflict in Burma. We are also in touch with local non-government organisations and community based organisations on both sides of the Thailand-Burma border.
	DfID has significantly increased its aid to Burmese refugees in Thailand and internally displaced people inside Burma in recent years to approximately £1.9 million in 2010.

Burma

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have held with fellow members of the European Union regarding the intensified conflict in Shan State, Burma, and the risk of the conflict escalating.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We regularly discuss developments in Burma (including human rights and ethnic issues) with EU partners in Brussels, with EU head of missions on the ground in Rangoon, and with EU member states who follow the situation in Burma from Bangkok. Our embassy in Rangoon specifically discussed the ongoing conflict in Shan State with EU colleagues on 19 May. The UK also raised our deep concern about the situation in Shan State during a meeting of the Asia-Oceania Working Party on 25 May. The UK underlined the importance of the EU following the situation closely and standing ready to urge constraint.

Burma

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what reports they have received that the Burmese Army is launching military attacks against civilians in Shan State, Burma; and what is their response to the reports.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Government are deeply concerned that the reported breakdown of a ceasefire agreement with the Shan State Army North has led to renewed conflict in Shan State. We have received reports which allege that the Burmese army has attacked local communities, whom they suspect of assisting the armed groups, and perpetuated human rights abuses. We understand that the fighting is taking place in the north-central area of Shan State, which is difficult to access and as such the information is hard to verify. In a Security Council debate on 10 May we called upon all armed actors, including the Burmese army and ethnic militia, to protect the civilian population. The Government secured a strongly worded human rights resolution at the March UN Human Rights Council which called on the Burmese Government to end continuing grave violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, including the targeting of civilians in conflict areas. The UK also highlighted our serious concern during a meeting with other EU member states on 25 May.

Burma

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken, either on their own or in collaboration with other states and international organisations, to secure the release of 250 Buddhist monks detained in Burma.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The unconditional release of Burma's over 2,000 political prisoners, including at least 200 Buddhist monks, is an important benchmark by which the UK judges the Burmese Government. We raise our concerns at their continued detention and press for their release with Burma's leaders at every opportunity. In their meeting with the new Burmese ambassador to the United Kingdom on 5 May 2011, senior Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials urged Burma to release all political prisoners. Our ambassador to Rangoon reiterated this message during meetings with Burmese Ministers on 10 May 2011.

Buses

Lord Bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the estimated cost to date of the Competition Commission's Local Bus Services Inquiry; and what is their estimate of the cost to (a) the industry, and (b) local authorities, in responding to this inquiry.

Baroness Wilcox: The costs to date incurred by the Competition Commission (CC) on the bus market inquiry are approximately £2 million. These are direct cost only.
	The CC has no estimates for the costs of (a) and (b) in responding to this inquiry.

Care Homes

Lord Warner: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether vulnerable elderly people occupying their care homes under a licence can be required to leave at four weeks notice; and whether it is permissible for an individual to be required to leave a care home on account of their personal beliefs.

Earl Howe: I refer the noble Lord to the response I gave him on 12 May (Official Report, cols. WA231-2).

China

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made representations to the Government of China about the detention of the artist Ai Weiwei.

Lord Howell of Guildford: On 4 April 2011 the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), made a public statement outlining our concerns (http://ukinegyptSco.gov.ulden/news/?view-News&id=579056182). His statement called on the Chinese Government to clarify Mr Ai's situation and expressed the hope that he would be released immediately.
	On 11 April 2011 my right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister raised Mr Ai's case when he met Shanghai Party Secretary and Politburo Standing Committee member, Yu Zhengsheng. The Minister of State, my right honourable friend the Member for Taunton Deane (Mr Browne), wrote to the Chinese ambassador regarding Ai's case and other human rights issues on 3 May 2011. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), and Minister of State, my right honourable friend the Member for Taunton Deane (Mr Browne), also raised Mr Ai's case with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying when she visited London on 12 May 2011. We will continue to monitor closely developments in Mr Ai's case and look for further opportunities to raise our concerns.

China: Human Rights

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase the transparency of the United Kingdom-China human rights dialogue; and what impact they attribute to transparency in promoting the effectiveness of the dialogue.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office values the experience and expertise of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and other civil society organisations and the input they can provide to our human rights work. The Minister of State, my honourable friend the Member for Taunton Deane (Mr Browne), met a group of NGOs specialising in China human rights issues in October 2010 and he has agreed to hold these meetings on a more regular basis, particularly in advance of future UK-China human rights dialogues. The meetings will provide the NGOs with a forum to raise suggestions and concerns in the context of the dialogue.

China: Human Rights

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to broaden the United Kingdom-China human rights dialogue to involve expert non-governmental organisations, representatives from civil society in the United Kingdom and representatives of the Tibetan and Uyghur communities in exile.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office values the experience and expertise of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other civil society organisations and the input they provide to our human rights work. The UK delegation to the most recent round of the dialogue in January 2011 included representatives from UK civil society and academia, who participated in both the expert workshop and the main plenary.
	The Minister of State, my honourable friend the Member for Taunton Deane (Mr Browne), met a group of NGOs specialising in China human rights issues in October 2010 and he has agreed to hold these meetings on a more regular basis, particularly in advance of future UK-China Human Rights dialogues. The meetings will provide NGOs with a forum to feed in ideas and raise concerns in the context of the dialogue.

China: Human Rights

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what benchmarks they use to assess progress in the United Kingdom-China human rights dialogue; whether such benchmarks and the details of subjects discussed are published; and, if not, why not.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The UK-China Human Rights dialogue is a key part of our engagement with China on human rights. The dialogue focuses on building long-term momentum for change. In each round of the UK-China Human Rights dialogue we aim to build on the key principles which underpin respect for human rights, and on the areas China will need to address in order to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). This includes the rights of detainees, migrant rights, capital punishment, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, the situation in Tibet and Xinjiang, and co-operation with international human rights mechanisms.
	We seek to be as transparent as possible in our human rights work. However, the effective conduct of the UK's international relations depends upon maintaining the trust and confidence of other governments. Our aim in the UK-China Human Rights dialogue is to achieve a free and frank exchange of information between the two governments and their experts. These exchanges are based on the understanding that they will be treated in confidence.

China: Human Rights

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the next round of United Kingdom-China Human Rights dialogue will take place; and what issues and cases they intend to raise.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We have not yet agreed dates for the next round of the UK-China Human Rights dialogue with China.
	Although topics for the dialogue have not yet been decided, we aim in each round to build on the key principles which underpin respect for human rights, and on the areas China will need to address in order to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). We also raise individual cases of concern.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

The Countess of Mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to put in place safeguards to protect people with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis who are unable to work from being pressurised into unsuitable work or work-related activity prematurely when such a return to activity could be detrimental to their health.

Lord Freud: We recognise chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis can be severely disabling. Where a disability or health condition makes it unreasonable for a person to work we commit to support them. The right benefit in such cases is employment and support allowance (ESA). Those with the most severe functional limitations will be placed in the support group, with no conditionality/work related activity requirements.
	People with limited capability for work will be placed in the work-related activity group. These individuals may be required to undertake work-related activity, which an adviser will discuss with them and will be detailed in their action plan. Work-related activity (WRA) may include work focused interviews (WFI) and other activities-for example, undertaking a training course or preparing a CV. Any activity the claimant is required to undertake must be reasonable in their circumstances. Advisers have the discretion to not impose work-related activity as they see fit. The purpose of work-related activity is to be of help to a claimant. Through these flexibilities we empowered advisers to support a wide variety of people, many of whom may have fluctuating conditions. At no time can an ESA customer be directed to seek, apply for or do work, nor to undertake medical treatment.
	Safeguards are important for all ESA claimants rather than being condition specific. ESA customers have the right to ask for an activity to be reconsidered if they feel it is unreasonable. The reconsideration is undertaken by a Jobcentre Plus decision-maker. Customers also have the right of appeal, which is dealt with by an appeals tribunal.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

The Countess of Mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to address the disruption to specialist services for chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis patients resulting from changes to the distribution of funding from primary care trusts' baseline budgets to the NHS bundle.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will designate chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis as a reportable health condition in order to obtain robust collection of data on (a) the number of children, young people and adults with the condition, (b) the degrees of severity of the condition, (c) demographic data, and (d) hereditability.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will commission research into the advice given to patients suffering significant viral or bacterial infections in order to prevent the incidence of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Earl Howe: Specialist services for those with chronic fatigue syndrome/ myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) are funded from primary care trust budgets. There are no plans to fund these services from the National Health Service bundle.
	The department's position remains that the administrative burden on clinicians and others of the notification system means that it should be used only for a relatively small number of infectious diseases where monitoring is clinically necessary to identify sources of infection and control the spread, rather than be imposed as a means of collecting statistical information on the incidence and prevalence of specific conditions.
	The Government have no plans to commission such research. The cause of CFS/ME is unknown, and it is therefore unknown what factors are responsible for the incidence of this medical condition.
	The Medical Research Council has recently confirmed a commitment of up to £1.5 million to support research into the causes of CFS/ME. The new funding call will focus on six priority areas which have been identified by leading experts in the research community.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

The Countess of Mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 22 May 2011 (WA 372), how treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis patients will be protected in the event of closure of a National Health Service hospital providing healthcare facilities to patients with CFS/ME from all parts of the United Kingdom; and who is responsible for safeguarding the treatment.

Earl Howe: It is the responsibility of individual primary care trusts to commission appropriate services to meet the needs of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Civil Partnerships

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people have registered a civil partnership in each year in each local authority area up until the last year for which records are available.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, Director General for ONS, to Lord Kennedy of Southwark, dated June 2011.
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people have registered a civil partnership in each year in each local authority area up until the last year for which records are available. [HL9614]
	The attached table shows the number of civil partnerships taking place in the UK by area of formation between 2005, the year the Civil Partnership Act 2004 came into force, and 2009, the latest year for which figures are available. Figures are presented by regions, counties, London boroughs, metropolitan districts and unitary authorities for England; unitary authorities within Wales; council areas within Scotland; and health trusts within Northern Ireland. Figures are not available for non-metropolitan districts in England.
	Background Notes:
	1. Figures are presented using area of formation and not area of usual residence and relate only to civil partnerships taking place in the constituent countries of the UK.
	2. Civil partnership statistics do not include civil partnerships of UK residents taking place abroad, but do include non-UK residents who form a partnership in the UK.
	3. Figures for England and Wales are based on date of formation-the date on which the civil partnership took place. Figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland are based on date of registration -the date the civil partnership was entered onto the registration system. This date may be the same as the date of formation or a later date.
	4. Figures are not available for non-metropolitan districts in England because this information is not available from the formation authority field used to compile civil partnership statistics by area.
	5. The figures in the table are published for 2007 to 2009 at http://www.statistics.qov.uk/statbase/Product.asp? vInk=14675 and available upon request for 2005 and 2006.
	
		
			 Civil Partnerships by area of formation, year and sex 
			 United Kingdom, 2005-2009 
			 United Kingdom by Countries and, Within England, Regions, Counties, London Boroughs, Metropolitan Districts and Unitary Authorities; Unitary Authorities Within Wales; Council Areas Within Scotland; and Health Trusts Within Northern Ireland 20051   2006   2007   2008   20092   
			  Total Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female 
			 
			 United Kingdom 1,953 1,287 666 16,106 9,648 6458 8,728 4,770 3,958 7,169 3,824 3,345 6,281 3,227 3,054 
			 
			 England 1,790 1,195 595 14,383 8,718 5665 7,635 4,242 3,393 6,276 3,399 2,877 5,443 2,850 2,593 
			 
			 North East 67 36 31 448 232 216 256 113 143 197 82 115 183 68 115 
			 
			 County Durham UA3 .. .. .. 79 48 31 46 22 24 40 19 21 24 9 15 
			 Darlington UA .. .. .. 26 13 13 9 2 7 13 5 8 11 3 8 
			 Hartlepool UA .. .. .. 8 2 6 4 2 2 5 2 3 3 - 3 
			 Middlesbrough UA .. .. .. 35 14 21 18 6 12 12 3 9 10 3 7 
			 Northumberland UA4 .. .. .. 44 17 27 25 12 13 21 9 12 30 11 19 
			 Redcar and Cleveland UA .. .. .. 17 8 9 6 2 4 6 1 5 13 4 9 
			 Stockton-On-Tees UA .. .. .. 21 10 11 10 7 3 8 2 6 5 4 1 
			 
			 Tyne and Wear (Met County) .. .. .. 218 120 98 138 60 78 92 41 51 87 34 53 
			 Gateshead .. .. .. 45 30 15 29 13 16 19 7 12 12 5 7 
			 Newcastle Upon Tyne .. .. .. 107 61 46 64 26 38 45 24 21 43 22 21 
			 North Tyneside .. .. .. 36 12 24 19 8 11 9 5 4 10 - 10 
			 South Tyneside .. .. .. 8 4 4 6 2 4 5 2 3 10 4 6 
			 Sunderland .. .. .. 22 13 9 20 11 9 14 3 11 12 3 9 
			 
			 North West 160 95 65 1,565 838 727 874 447 427 704 332 372 597 283 314 
			 
			 Blackburn With Darwen UA .. .. .. 26 12 14 22 7 15 9 2 7 9 1 8 
			 Blackpool UA .. .. .. 155 95 60 77 44 33 56 32 24 49 26 23 
			 Cheshire East UA5 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 32 12 20 
			 Cheshire West and Chester UA6 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 25 13 12 
			 Halton UA .. .. .. 17 2 15 6 1 5 9 6 3 9 5 4 
			 Warrington UA .. .. .. 28 10 18 14 5 9 5 1 4 5 2 3 
			 
			 Cumbria .. .. .. 104 48 56 78 29 49 69 26 43 52 24 28 
			 
			 Greater Manchester (Met County) .. .. .. 680 396 284 352 196 156 317 159 158 244 119 125 
			 Bolton .. .. .. 45 19 26 19 6 13 25 10 15 20 9 11 
			 Bury .. .. .. 30 16 14 17 7 10 16 6 10 10 2 8 
			 Manchester .. .. .. 319 192 127 168 114 54 159 94 65 117 69 48 
			 Oldham .. .. .. 23 13 10 18 6 12 15 7 8 10 6 4 
			 Rochdale .. .. .. 40 20 20 18 4 14 13 1 12 13 4 9 
			 Salford .. .. .. 64 42 22 22 8 14 25 14 11 17 8 9 
			 Stockport .. .. .. 50 32 18 28 13 15 25 10 15 13 7 6 
			 Tameside .. .. .. 26 10 16 19 14 5 10 4 6 7 1 6 
			 Trafford .. .. .. 55 35 20 26 14 12 12 7 5 14 5 9 
			 Wigan .. .. .. 28 17 11 17 10 7 17 6 11 23 8 15 
			 
			 Lancashire .. .. .. 196 90 106 122 52 70 86 31 55 76 33 43 
			 
			 Merseyside (Met County) .. .. .. 229 116 113 128 68 60 82 44 38 96 48 48 
			 Knowsley .. .. .. 10 4 6 10 5 5 6 2 4 2 1 1 
			 Liverpool .. .. .. 108 59 49 58 35 23 40 24 16 53 23 30 
			 Sefton .. .. .. 48 25 23 19 13 6 8 7 1 17 10 7 
			 St.Helens .. .. .. 18 6 12 11 3 8 8 2 6 10 3 7 
			 Wirral .. .. .. 45 22 23 30 12 18 20 9 11 14 11 3 
			 
			 Former County of Cheshire7 .. .. .. 130 69 61 75 45 30 71 31 40 .. .. .. 
			 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 146 79 67 1,111 531 580 605 250 355 496 211 285 400 146 254 
			 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire UA .. .. .. 48 22 26 26 12 14 30 14 16 23 8 15 
			 Kingston Upon Hull, City of UA .. .. .. 52 34 18 21 7 14 24 8 16 18 7 11 
			 North East Lincolnshire UA .. .. .. 24 10 14 12 4 8 18 6 12 7 3 4 
			 North Lincolnshire UA .. .. .. 18 7 11 11 2 9 16 7 9 5 3 2 
			 York UA .. .. .. 111 50 61 48 16 32 36 19 17 27 5 22 
			 
			 North Yorkshire .. .. .. 153 81 72 87 39 48 68 32 36 53 20 33 
			 
			 South Yorkshire (Met County) .. .. .. 234 100 134 150 61 89 120 45 75 108 31 77 
			 Barnsley .. .. .. 25 9 16 23 11 12 28 9 19 23 5 18 
			 Doncaster .. .. .. 47 20 27 35 5 30 21 7 14 26 8 18 
			 Rotherham .. .. .. 32 13 19 24 7 17 10 3 7 11 4 7 
			 Sheffield .. .. .. 130 58 72 68 38 30 61 26 35 48 14 34 
			 
			 West Yorkshire (Met County) .. .. .. 471 227 244 250 109 141 184 80 104 159 69 90 
			 Bradford .. .. .. 65 27 38 33 14 19 35 11 24 29 9 20 
			 Calderdale .. .. .. 64 28 36 36 11 25 19 11 8 25 8 17 
			 Kirklees .. .. .. 77 49 28 42 21 21 25 9 16 23 11 12 
			 Leeds .. .. .. 187 89 98 104 46 58 77 39 38 61 31 30 
			 Wakefield .. .. .. 78 34 44 35 17 18 28 10 18 21 10 11 
			 
			 East Midlands 133 66 67 877 429 448 450 203 247 405 179 226 356 134 222 
			 
			 Derby UA .. .. .. 61 34 27 25 11 14 33 16 17 19 4 15 
			 Leicester UA .. .. .. 63 32 31 37 20 17 35 22 13 19 6 13 
			 Nottingham UA .. .. .. 115 68 47 43 18 25 29 15 14 37 15 22 
			 Rutland UA .. .. .. 14 9 5 5 2 3 14 3 11 3 - 3 
			 
			 Derbyshire .. .. .. 127 49 78 71 19 52 62 24 38 56 24 32 
			 Leicestershire .. .. .. 108 47 61 51 22 29 53 22 31 39 10 29 
			 Lincolnshire .. .. .. 103 57 46 68 38 30 59 25 34 58 24 34 
			 Northamptonshire .. .. .. 143 68 75 69 37 32 55 29 26 46 22 24 
			 Nottinghamshire .. .. .. 143 65 78 81 36 45 65 23 42 79 29 50 
			 
			 West Midlands 119 79 40 957 526 431 520 262 258 444 212 232 363 169 194 
			 
			 Herefordshire, County of UA .. .. .. 38 26 12 22 12 10 21 12 9 14 6 8 
			 Shropshire UA8 .. .. .. 62 33 29 39 17 22 35 15 20 20 8 12 
			 Stoke-on-Trent UA .. .. .. 34 16 18 14 8 6 21 10 11 14 4 10 
			 Telford and Wrekin UA .. .. .. 38 15 23 18 6 12 18 6 12 14 6 8 
			 
			 Staffordshire .. .. .. 138 66 72 95 39 56 65 25 40 62 24 38 
			 Warwickshire .. .. .. 107 56 51 57 31 26 62 35 27 49 23 26 
			 
			 West Midlands (Met County) .. .. .. 426 247 179 224 128 96 179 95 84 167 84 83 
			 Birmingham .. .. .. 239 147 92 129 73 56 86 48 38 103 60 43 
			 Coventry .. .. .. 52 28 24 25 17 8 27 16 11 16 9 7 
			 Dudley .. .. .. 36 17 19 20 9 11 19 8 11 17 3 14 
			 Sandwell .. .. .. 27 14 13 12 9 3 11 5 6 6 1 5 
			 Solihull .. .. .. 25 12 13 6 3 3 11 5 6 7 2 5 
			 Walsall .. .. .. 13 7 6 16 8 8 10 4 6 9 5 4 
			 Wolverhampton .. .. .. 34 22 12 16 9 7 15 9 6 9 4 5 
			 
			 Worcestershire .. .. .. 114 67 47 51 21 30 43 14 29 23 14 9 
			 
			 East 142 93 49 1,191 650 541 639 313 326 518 234 284 465 212 253 
			 
			 Bedford UA9 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14 5 9 
			 Central Bedfordshire UA10 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 16 7 9 
			 Luton UA .. .. .. 24 13 11 14 5 9 18 9 9 7 5 2 
			 Peterborough UA .. .. .. 39 20 19 18 7 11 22 6 16 10 4 6 
			 Southend-On-Sea UA .. .. .. 62 33 29 27 19 8 15 5 10 17 9 8 
			 Thurrock UA .. .. .. 13 8 5 7 2 5 7 3 4 9 3 6 
			 
			 Cambridgeshire .. .. .. 164 87 77 78 37 41 72 37 35 70 30 40 
			 Essex .. .. .. 210 106 104 110 49 61 103 51 52 98 48 50 
			 Hertfordshire .. .. .. 204 105 99 116 60 56 92 35 57 74 41 33 
			 Norfolk .. .. .. 242 139 103 145 76 69 87 37 50 81 36 45 
			 Suffolk .. .. .. 166 95 71 92 46 46 66 35 31 69 24 45 
			 
			 Former County of Bedfordshire11 .. .. .. 67 44 23 32 12 20 36 16 20 .. .. .. 
			 
			 London 469 371 98 4,019 3,058 961 2,110 1,545 565 1,729 1,271 458 1,545 1,134 411 
			 
			 Inner London .. .. .. 2,804 2,207 597 1,484 1,139 345 1,229 948 281 1,143 882 261 
			 
			 Camden .. .. .. 222 177 45 106 80 26 97 75 22 95 77 18 
			 City of London .. .. .. 15 12 3 9 8 1 7 5 2 4 3 1 
			 Hackney .. .. .. 122 69 53 68 38 30 67 37 30 52 36 16 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham .. .. .. 125 102 23 55 44 11 39 29 10 51 43 8 
			 Haringey .. .. .. 94 60 34 40 32 8 38 31 7 35 26 9 
			 Islington .. .. .. 320 226 94 189 129 60 140 96 44 133 98 35 
			 Kensington and Chelsea .. .. .. 409 346 63 195 162 33 147 120 27 140 107 33 
			 Lambeth .. .. .. 208 162 46 98 77 21 92 77 15 92 75 17 
			 Lewisham .. .. .. 114 79 35 51 34 17 57 39 18 42 32 10 
			 Newham .. .. .. 53 38 15 39 30 9 23 18 5 19 13 6 
			 Southwark .. .. .. 208 161 47 119 88 31 96 78 18 93 71 22 
			 Tower Hamlets .. .. .. 136 123 13 74 62 12 62 53 9 52 49 3 
			 Wandsworth .. .. .. 212 174 38 100 64 36 82 56 26 93 70 23 
			 Westminster .. .. .. 566 478 88 341 291 50 282 234 48 242 182 60 
			 
			 Outer London .. .. .. 1,215 851 364 626 406 220 500 323 177 402 252 150 
			 
			 Barking and Dagenham .. .. .. 12 6 6 10 6 4 6 3 3 8 3 5 
			 Barnet .. .. .. 70 49 21 42 25 17 31 19 12 23 14 9 
			 Bexley .. .. .. 28 17 11 20 9 11 24 5 19 14 5 9 
			 Brent .. .. .. 59 39 20 22 17 5 19 15 4 25 22 3 
			 Bromley .. .. .. 56 36 20 35 19 16 22 10 12 25 17 8 
			 Croydon .. .. .. 97 68 29 34 22 12 32 27 5 32 14 18 
			 Ealing .. .. .. 107 84 23 69 47 22 40 32 8 29 20 9 
			 Enfield .. .. .. 46 30 16 27 15 12 30 22 8 11 5 6 
			 Greenwich .. .. .. 82 61 21 53 37 16 44 30 14 35 25 10 
			 Harrow .. .. .. 48 31 17 12 10 2 17 8 9 7 5 2 
			 Havering .. .. .. 28 12 16 18 7 11 12 5 7 14 6 8 
			 Hillingdon .. .. .. 50 34 16 23 12 11 15 11 4 9 5 4 
			 Hounslow .. .. .. 66 53 13 30 24 6 18 13 5 20 12 8 
			 Kingston Upon Thames .. .. .. 56 43 13 29 21 8 23 16 7 23 15 8 
			 Merton .. .. .. 87 70 17 33 22 11 34 27 7 32 23 9 
			 Redbridge .. .. .. 42 31 11 13 8 5 14 10 4 13 9 4 
			 Richmond Upon Thames .. .. .. 157 116 41 85 61 24 73 51 22 45 27 18 
			 Sutton .. .. .. 34 18 16 18 11 7 8 3 5 11 5 6 
			 Waltham Forest .. .. .. 90 53 37 53 33 20 38 16 22 26 20 6 
			 
			 South East 331 213 118 2,708 1,602 1106 1,419 738 681 1,147 588 559 1,004 471 533 
			 
			 Bracknell Forest UA .. .. .. 23 14 9 3 2 1 10 6 4 8 6 2 
			 Brighton and Hove UA .. .. .. 636 416 220 321 199 122 274 158 116 232 123 109 
			 Isle of Wight UA .. .. .. 42 24 18 17 6 11 8 3 5 11 4 7 
			 Medway UA .. .. .. 22 14 8 34 12 22 21 11 10 17 6 11 
			 Milton Keynes UA .. .. .. 57 31 26 21 9 12 36 21 15 14 7 7 
			 Portsmouth UA .. .. .. 85 42 43 53 27 26 46 22 24 49 18 31 
			 Reading UA .. .. .. 53 29 24 27 17 10 29 19 10 16 9 7 
			 Slough UA .. .. .. 15 11 4 10 6 4 6 4 2 4 3 1 
			 Southampton UA .. .. .. 81 52 29 47 26 21 33 16 17 34 16 18 
			 West Berkshire UA .. .. .. 26 13 13 10 3 7 14 6 8 14 4 10 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead UA .. .. .. 64 45 19 39 24 15 27 18 9 20 14 6 
			 Wokingham UA .. .. .. 29 16 13 12 7 5 11 5 6 10 5 5 
			 
			 Buckinghamshire .. .. .. 67 34 33 41 18 23 31 12 19 30 9 21 
			 East Sussex .. .. .. 212 117 95 124 68 56 73 38 35 83 39 44 
			 Hampshire .. .. .. 260 141 119 136 46 90 119 44 75 90 33 57 
			 Kent .. .. .. 343 207 136 194 93 101 167 86 81 129 53 76 
			 Oxfordshire .. .. .. 198 109 89 91 42 49 68 34 34 84 40 44 
			 Surrey .. .. .. 267 154 113 142 77 65 80 42 38 86 43 43 
			 West Sussex .. .. .. 228 133 95 97 56 41 94 43 51 73 39 34 
			 
			 South West 223 163 60 1,507 852 655 762 371 391 636 290 346 530 233 297 
			 
			 Bath and North East Somerset UA .. .. .. 86 50 36 35 17 18 34 18 16 36 24 12 
			 Bournemouth UA .. .. .. 163 129 34 60 41 19 49 31 18 34 20 14 
			 Bristol, City of UA .. .. .. 178 108 70 85 44 41 73 42 31 60 33 27 
			 Cornwall UA and Isles of Scilly UA12 .. .. .. 160 74 86 85 30 55 62 17 45 69 25 44 
			 North Somerset UA .. .. .. 45 30 15 18 10 8 24 8 16 16 8 8 
			 Plymouth UA .. .. .. 60 25 35 42 22 20 40 13 27 22 10 12 
			 Poole UA .. .. .. 69 46 23 27 14 13 19 16 3 19 9 10 
			 South Gloucestershire UA .. .. .. 34 17 17 17 7 10 18 9 9 17 3 14 
			 Swindon UA .. .. .. 43 18 25 23 13 10 19 7 12 14 3 11 
			 Torbay UA .. .. .. 72 51 21 38 22 16 31 15 16 21 10 11 
			 Wiltshire UA13 .. .. .. 88 43 45 55 30 25 40 21 19 34 9 25 
			 
			 Devon .. .. .. 191 100 91 93 47 46 85 41 44 65 26 39 
			 Dorset .. .. .. 88 42 46 55 16 39 29 14 15 24 8 16 
			 Gloucestershire .. .. .. 141 73 68 88 46 42 72 24 48 59 20 39 
			 Somerset .. .. .. 89 46 43 41 12 29 41 14 27 40 25 15 
			 
			 Wales 67 33 34 560 285 275 294 129 165 282 137 145 244 112 132 
			 
			 Isle of Anglesey .. .. .. 4 - 4 4 1 3 3 2 1 2 - 2 
			 Gwynedd .. .. .. 23 14 9 12 6 6 17 9 8 11 7 4 
			 Conwy .. .. .. 29 15 14 15 8 7 18 9 9 10 7 3 
			 Denbighshire .. .. .. 16 5 11 7 3 4 14 3 11 7 2 5 
			 Flintshire .. .. .. 20 6 14 7 3 4 11 6 5 10 5 5 
			 Wrexham .. .. .. 21 12 9 13 8 5 7 2 5 8 3 5 
			 Powys .. .. .. 38 26 12 13 3 10 10 5 5 13 4 9 
			 Ceredigion .. .. .. 18 5 13 5 1 4 4 2 2 5 2 3 
			 Pembrokeshire .. .. .. 25 13 12 6 3 3 8 5 3 8 1 7 
			 Carmarthenshire .. .. .. 19 9 10 11 5 6 10 6 4 21 8 13 
			 Swansea .. .. .. 60 27 33 27 10 17 21 12 9 23 9 14 
			 Neath Port Talbot .. .. .. 14 3 11 8 5 3 10 5 5 8 3 5 
			 Bridgend .. .. .. 18 7 11 10 5 5 13 6 7 11 3 8 
			 Vale of Glamorgan .. .. .. 29 18 11 18 5 13 16 7 9 12 5 7 
			 Cardiff .. .. .. 118 74 44 62 35 27 66 30 36 49 30 19 
			 Rhondda, Cynon, Taff .. .. .. 23 9 14 12 2 10 9 5 4 10 5 5 
			 Merthyr Tydfil .. .. .. 6 5 1 5 4 1 3 - 3 2 - 2 
			 Caerphilly .. .. .. 21 6 15 15 3 12 7 3 4 8 5 3 
			 Blaenau Gwent .. .. .. 5 4 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 - 1 
			 Torfaen .. .. .. 7 4 3 6 1 5 2 - 2 4 3 1 
			 Monmouthshire .. .. .. 18 8 10 13 7 6 13 8 5 9 3 6 
			 Newport .. .. .. 28 15 13 23 10 13 18 11 7 12 7 5 
			 
			 Scotland 84 53 31 1,047 580 467 688 339 349 525 245 280 498 219 279 
			 
			 Aberdeen City .. .. .. 36 22 14 26 8 18 11 6 5 14 7 7 
			 Aberdeenshire .. .. .. 25 16 9 16 9 7 9 2 7 8 5 3 
			 Angus .. .. .. 8 3 5 8 5 3 7 3 4 2 1 1 
			 Argyll & Bute .. .. .. 30 12 18 14 9 5 11 3 8 16 6 10 
			 Clackmannanshire .. .. .. 4 2 2 - - - 5 2 3 - - - 
			 Dumfries & Galloway .. .. .. 47 17 30 49 15 34 65 17 48 43 7 36 
			 Dundee City .. .. .. 22 13 9 15 7 8 11 6 5 9 2 7 
			 East Ayrshire .. .. .. 8 4 4 2 1 1 3 - 3 5 2 3 
			 East Dunbartonshire .. .. .. 8 5 3 9 5 4 6 3 3 1 - 1 
			 East Lothian .. .. .. 21 13 8 10 5 5 7 3 4 10 5 5 
			 East Renfrewshire .. .. .. 8 4 4 4 1 3 6 2 4 7 5 2 
			 Edinburgh, City of .. .. .. 310 174 136 190 105 85 134 74 60 122 57 65 
			 Eilean Siar .. .. .. - - - - - - - - - 1 1 - 
			 Falkirk .. .. .. 7 3 4 6 4 2 14 5 9 8 2 6 
			 Fife .. .. .. 50 30 20 38 14 24 18 9 9 22 11 11 
			 Glasgow City .. .. .. 226 144 82 152 88 64 119 72 47 111 63 48 
			 Highland .. .. .. 54 25 29 18 3 15 14 8 6 23 9 14 
			 Inverclyde .. .. .. 5 3 2 4 1 3 1 - 1 6 1 5 
			 Midlothian .. .. .. 7 2 5 7 4 3 4 - 4 4 2 2 
			 Moray .. .. .. 9 6 3 6 5 1 5 2 3 3 - 3 
			 North Ayrshire .. .. .. 19 12 7 13 5 8 7 6 1 10 5 5 
			 North Lanarkshire .. .. .. 19 8 11 4 2 2 4 1 3 7 2 5 
			 Orkney Islands .. .. .. 1 1 - - - - 2 - 2 - - - 
			 Perth & Kinross .. .. .. 28 15 13 14 6 8 13 3 10 10 5 5 
			 Renfrewshire .. .. .. 6 3 3 7 4 3 2 1 1 4 4 - 
			 Scottish Borders .. .. .. 17 12 5 17 7 10 11 6 5 13 4 9 
			 Shetland .. .. .. - - - - - - 1 1 - - - - 
			 South Ayrshire .. .. .. 17 7 10 15 8 7 7 1 6 3 1 2 
			 South Lanarkshire .. .. .. 10 6 4 13 4 9 10 4 6 16 6 10 
			 Stirling .. .. .. 20 11 9 13 5 8 8 3 5 10 3 7 
			 West Dunbartonshire .. .. .. 7 2 5 8 6 2 4 - 4 5 1 4 
			 West Lothian .. .. .. 18 5 13 10 3 7 6 2 4 5 2 3 
			 
			 Northern Ireland 12 6 6 116 65 51 111 60 51 86 43 43 96 46 50 
			 
			 Belfast14 .. .. .. .. .. .. 72 42 30 48 24 24 63 37 26 
			 Northern15 .. .. .. 9 2 7 4 2 2 6 2 4 7 2 5 
			 South Eastern16 .. .. .. .. .. .. 9 5 4 9 8 1 9 4 5 
			 Southern17 .. .. .. 8 5 3 11 4 7 10 4 6 4 - 4 
			 Western18 .. .. .. 14 7 7 15 7 8 13 5 8 13 3 10 
			 
			 Former Eastern Health Board19 .. .. .. 85 51 34 81 47 34 57 32 25 72 41 31 
		
	
	Note
	In this table
	- Denotes nil, and
	.. Denotes not available
	1. The Civil Partnership Act 2004 came into force on 5 December 2005 in the UK, the first day couples could give notice of their intention to form a civil partnership. The first day that couples could normally form a partnership was 19 December 2005 in Northern Ireland, 20 December 2005 in Scotland and 21 December 2005 in England and Wales. Due to the small numbers in 2005 a further breakdown by area for is not available.
	2. Figures for Northern Ireland and the UK for 2009 are provisional.
	3. County Durham UA comprises the former Durham county.
	4. Northumberland UA comprises the former Northumberland county.
	5. Cheshire East UA comprises the former districts of Congleton, Crewe and Nantwich and Macclesfield (abolished 2009).
	6. Cheshire West and Chester UA comprise the former districts of Chester, Ellesmere Port & Neston and Vale Royal (abolished 2009).
	7. The former county of Cheshire is the area covered by the current unitary authorities of Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester created on 1 April 2009.
	8. Shropshire UA comprises the former Shropshire county.
	9. Bedford UA comprises the former district of Bedford (abolished 2009).
	10. Central Bedfordshire UA comprises the former districts of Mid Bedfordshire and South Bedfordshire (abolished 2009).
	11. The former county of Bedfordshire is the area covered by the unitary authorities of Bedford and Central Bedfordshire created on 1 April 2009.
	12. Cornwall UA and the Isles of Scilly UA comprise the former Cornwall and Isles of Scilly county. The Isles of Scilly were recoded on 1 April 2009. They are separately administered by an Isles of Scilly council and do not form part of Cornwall UA but, for the purposes of the presentation of statistical data, they have been combined with Cornwall UA.
	13. Wiltshire UA comprises the former county of Wiltshire.
	14. Belfast health trust comprises the council areas of Belfast and Castlereagh.
	15. Northern health trust comprises the Northern health board.
	16. South Eastern health trust comprises the council areas of Ards, Down, Lisburn and North Down.
	17. Southern health trust comprises the Southern health board.
	18. Western health trust comprises the Western health board.
	19. The Eastern health board is the area covered by the current Belfast and South Eastern health trusts.
	Sources: Office for National Statistics, National Records of Scotland, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency

Cornwall: Stannary Law

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord McNally on 11 May (WA 213), whether stannary law can still be used in appropriate courts in Cornwall.

Lord McNally: There is no special status for legislation which applies to Cornwall or to Cornish localities. There were provisions in 19th century primary legislation relating to the stannaries, but these have largely been repealed. Stannary customary law was formerly enforced through the Stannaries Court, but that court was abolished and its jurisdiction transferred to the county courts of Cornwall in consequence of the Stannaries Court (Abolition) Act 1896. That body of customary law has not been systematically repealed but it is likely that such law has been superseded by modern legislation.

Crown Prosecution Service

Baroness Whitaker: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Verma on 12 May, what parliamentary scrutiny has taken place over the decision to transfer responsibility for charging from the Crown Prosecution Service back to the police for some offences.

Lord Wallace of Tankerness: The chief executive of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) explained the transfer of responsibility to the police, for charging in certain further offences, when he gave evidence to the House of Commons Justice Select Committee in January 2011. The issue of statutory charging has also been raised in a number of Parliamentary Questions during recent years.
	Under the Criminal Justice Act 2003, the CPS was given the power to charge, although the police retained the responsibility to charge in the more minor cases, which made up around two-thirds of the overall casework. The detailed division of responsibility for charging is set out in the Director of Public Prosecutions' Guidance on Charging, which is regularly updated. Since implementation, the issue of statutory charging has been the subject of review, most recently in the reports on police bureaucracy from Sir Ronnie Flanagan and Jan Berry. The Association of Chief Police Officers and the CPS agreed a programme of work in response and this included piloting the return of certain further offences to the police in 2010. The pilots were subject to a careful evaluation process that concluded in agreement to a national rollout, which will be completed at the end of June this year. The Home Secretary recently announced that further cases are to be returned to the police to charge following agreement between the CPS and ACPO. This will be the subject of a further pilot and evaluation. It is important to note that the CPS will remain responsible for the charging decision in the most serious and complex cases, and all cases charged by the police will be reviewed by the CPS following charge in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their latest assessment of the incidence of violence against women in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The situation for women in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains a serious concern and we monitor the situation closely. Women continue to face unacceptably high levels of sexual violence with limited access to justice and healthcare as reported by non-governmental organisations and UN agencies. The UK has published its National Action Plan to address women, peace and security issues in the DRC. We continue to urge the Government of the DRC to implement fully President Kabila's zero tolerance policy on perpetrators of sexual violence. The most recent quarterly update to Human Rights and Democracy: The 2010 FCO Report notes a welcome increase in convictions for perpetrators of human rights violations in the DRC, but it remains on our list of human rights countries of concern.

Diplomatic Missions: Unpaid Parking Fines

Lord Faulkner of Worcester: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much is owed by each diplomatic delegation in London in unpaid parking fines and congestion charge payments.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), is to table information on unpaid parking fines and congestion charge payments in June 2011, as part of the annual Written Ministerial Statement on offences and debts.

Disabled People

Lord Morris of Manchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to ensure wide consultation with disabled people and their organisations on the report on implementation in the United Kingdom of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Disabled People; and what other action they are considering.

Lord Freud: The Office for Disability Issues (ODI) co-ordinates the Government's progress report on implementation of the convention, from regular meetings with a group of disabled people's organisations, chaired by the UK Disabled People's Council (UKDPC), and from a virtual network of other disabled people's organisations. ODI has worked with government departments and the devolved Administrations to consider the issues that these organisations raised when preparing their contributions to the draft report, and in their future work.
	On 16 May a draft report was placed on ODI's website for public comment, and informed disabled people's organisations and other stakeholders about it. Government departments and the devolved Administrations will review their contributions to the report in the light of the views expressed.

Drugs: Orphan Medicines

Lord Turnberg: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the proposed national strategy for rare diseases will address the need for the research and development of orphan medicines.

Earl Howe: The Government welcome the opportunity that the 2009 European Council recommendation on a European action in the field of rare diseases presents for gathering expertise, exchanging information and best practice between member states. The department is working with the devolved Administrations and key stakeholders in developing the United Kingdom's plan for rare disease, and will ensure that the area of research and development is adequately addressed in the plan. The plan will be finalised by 2013 in line with the European Council recommendation.
	The European Union Orphan Medicine Scheme already provides incentives for the development of treatments for patients with rare diseases.

Education: Careers Advice

Lord Cotter: To ask Her Majesty's Government what careers support is provided to young people who are also seeking apprenticeships.

Lord Hill of Oareford: Subject to the passage of the Education Bill, schools will be under a duty to secure access to independent careers guidance for all pupils in years 9 to 11 from September 2012. All guidance must be presented in an impartial manner and in the best interests of the pupils concerned. This summer, we will consult on extending the duty to young people up to the age of 18 studying in schools and further education institutions.
	Schools will be free to determine how best to fulfil this duty based on the needs of their pupils but the careers guidance must include information on apprenticeships alongside all other 16-18 education or training options. A range of high quality sources of information on apprenticeships are widely available including those produced by the National Apprenticeship Service.

Education: Careers Advice

Lord Cotter: To ask Her Majesty's Government what careers guidance is given to those seeking employment through Job Centre Plus.

Lord Freud: Jobcentre Plus provides careers guidance as part of work focused interviews and by arranging for claimants to obtain additional advice from delivery partners. Those seeking employment are given advice on careers in the local and wider labour market, and may make use of a skills check to help them identify a suitable career. Careers guidance also includes advice on skill requirements and on how to obtain the relevant skills where appropriate.

Education: Classics

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many teachers qualified with a postgraduate certificate of education in classics in England in each year since 1990.

Lord Hill of Oareford: The available information is given in the table. This shows the number and proportion of teachers gaining qualified teacher status via postgraduate college based initial teacher training courses specialising in classics, in each year since 1998-99.
	
		
			 Teachers gaining qualified teacher status via postgraduate  college based courses 
			 Academic Years: 1998-99 to 2008-09 
			 Coverage: England 
			  Secondary ITT % teachers gaining QTS specialising in Classics 
			  Total of which Classics  
			 1998-99 10,640 40 0.4% 
			 1999-00 10,320 25 0.2% 
			 2000-01 10,660 35 0.3% 
			 2001-02 11,330 30 0.3% 
			 2002-03 12,380 35 0.3% 
			 2003-04 13,880 35 0.2% 
			 2004-05 13,650 30 0.2% 
			 2005-06 13,600 25 0.2% 
			 2006-07 13,170 25 0.2% 
			 2007-08 12,340 25 0.2% 
			 2008-09 12,300 25 0.2% 
		
	
	Source: TDA's Performance Profiles
	1. Includes universities and other higher education institutions, SCITT and Open University but excludes employment based routes.
	2. Numbers for classics have been rounded to the nearest 5, all other numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	3. The percentage of teachers gaining QTS specialising in classics is given as a proportion of all teachers gaining QTS via secondary ITT courses.

Education: Classics

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many of those qualifying with a postgraduate certificate of education in classics in England in each year since 1990 have taken their first post in (a) a state comprehensive, and (b) a fee-paying school.

Lord Hill of Oareford: The available information is given in the table. This shows the number and proportion of classics teachers who were employed in a teaching post within six months of gaining qualified teacher status (QTS).
	
		
			 Teachers gaining QTS via postgraduate college based courses in Classics: Employment status six months after gaining QTS 
			 Academic Years: 1998-99 to 2008-09 
			 Coverage: England 
			  Teachers gaining QTS in Classics Of which (number): Of which (number): 
			   In teaching post-maintained sector In teaching post-non-maintained sector In teaching post-sector not know Other In teaching post-maintained sector In teaching post-non-maintained sector In teaching post-sector not known Other 
			 1998-99 40 10 24 * * 25% 60% * * 
			 1999-00 25 * 8 8 6  35% 35% 26% 
			 2000-01 35 6 10 5 13 18% 29% 15% 38% 
			 2001-02 30 7 15 7 * 23% 48% 23% * 
			 2002-03 35 6 23 * * 18% 70% * * 
			 2003-04 35 13 13 * 5 39% 39% * 15% 
			 2004-05 30 8 17 * 6 25% 53% * 19% 
			 2005-06 25 8 13 * * 31% 50% * * 
			 2006-07 25 7 20 0 0 26% 74% 0% 0% 
			 2007-08 25 6 18 * * 22% 67% * * 
			 2008-09 25 9 13 * * 38% 54% * * 
		
	
	Source: TDA's Performance Profiles
	1. Includes universities and other higher education institutions, SCITT and Open University but excludes employment based routes.
	2. Percentages are based in the total number of teachers gaining QTS in classics.
	3. Other includes all those who are not known to be in a teaching post six months after gaining QTS.
	4. Total number of teacher gaining QTS in classics has been rounded to the nearest 5.
	* Less than 5, or a rate based on less than 5.

Education: Classics

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government (a) which colleges in England offer a postgraduate certificate of education in classics, (b) how many students each trained in 2009-10, (c) how many they are training currently, and (d) how many are expected to be trained in the next academic year.

Lord Hill of Oareford: The table shows the number of postgraduate classics initial teacher training places allocated to mainstream providers in 2009-10 and 2010-11, together with the number of recruits in these years.
	
		
			 Mainstream providers offering postgraduate initial teacher training  courses in Classics 
			 Academic Years: 2009-10 to 2011-12 
			 Coverage: England 
			  2009-10  2010-11  2011-12 
			  Number of allocated places Number of new entrants Number of allocated places Number of new entrants Number of allocated places 
			 Total 25 30 25 30 25 
			 University of Cambridge 15 15 15 15 10 
			 University of Gloucestershire 0 * 0 0 0 
			 King's College London 10 15 10 15 10 
			 University of Buckingham 0 * 0 0 0 
		
	
	Source: TDA's ITT Trainee Numbers Census
	1. Includes universities and other higher education institutions, SCITT and Open University but excludes employment based routes.
	2. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 5.
	* Less than 5

Education: Girls

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they plan to work with international partners to increase the political priority given to ensuring that girls across the world are able to complete a basic education.

Baroness Verma: The Department for International Development led international support for the United Nations Girls' Education Initiative (UNGEI) and we continue to support UNGEI to help ensure that commitments translate into meaningful results. We also work with the World Bank and the Education For All Fast Track Initiative, in addition to co-ordinating with our donor partners and partner countries to help ensure that education, including education for girls, remains a priority.

Education: Girls

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to improve the quality of teaching in countries in which they have a bilateral aid programme in order to ensure that more girls stay in school and complete their education.

Baroness Verma: The Department for International Development (DfID) is placing the empowerment of girls and women at the heart of the UK's development policy. An additional year of female schooling reduces the probability of child mortality by 5 to 10 per cent and increases female earnings by 10 to 20 per cent.
	DfID is supporting all countries where we have education programmes to develop plans for recruiting, training and retaining teachers. DfID provides technical expertise and guidance to partner countries to help ensure that teacher training is of high quality and that teachers are responsive to the needs of all their students, especially girls.
	As stated in UK Aid: Changing Lives, Delivering Results we pledge to support at least 9 million children in primary school, over half of whom will be girls, and 2 million children in secondary school by 2014.

Education: Girls

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures of education outcomes they plan to use to evaluate the success of United Kingdom efforts to ensure that more girls receive a quality education in the developing world.

Baroness Verma: The Department for International Development (DfID) is committed to helping retain girls in education through to lower secondary. Completion of a full cycle of primary education will be tracked, as a key indicator, in each of our partner countries where we have education programmes. We recognise the importance of ensuring that girls and boys are not just in school, but learning. DfID is already working with partner governments to measure early grade reading as a proxy for learning in many of the countries in which we have education programmes.
	As stated in UK Aid: Changing Lives, Delivering Results we pledge to support at least 9 million children in primary school, over half of whom will be girls, and 2 million children in secondary school by 2014.

Education: Girls

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they are co-ordinating with the European Union and other donors to ensure that priority is given to girls' education.

Baroness Verma: Department for International Development (DfID) Ministers and officials are in regular contact with their donor partner and European Union (EU) counterparts to help ensure that education, including education for girls, remains a high priority. DfID played a key role in the task team that drafted the EU Plan of Action on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment in Development. A DfID official seconded to work on education policy at the European Commission led the development of a staff working document, More and Better Education in Developing Countries.

Egypt

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make representations to the Government of Egypt regarding violence being perpetrated against the country's Coptic minority.

Lord Howell of Guildford: There were violent clashes between Muslims and Coptic Christians in Egypt on 7 and 9 May 2011, leaving up to 15 dead and over 250 people injured. Peaceful demonstrations about these events were attacked on 15 May 2011 by unidentified gunmen, again resulting in injuries.
	The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), condemned this violence in a Statement to Parliament on 16 May 2011. He called on both sides to find a peaceful resolution to their differences and welcomed the fact that many in Egypt had been appalled by the violence. The noble Baroness, Lady Ashton, issued a statement on behalf of the EU condemning the clashes on 7 May 2011.
	The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), visited Egypt on 1-2 May 2011. He raised his concerns about the dangers of extremism and sectarianism in Egypt with the head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, Field Marshal Tantawi, and with the Prime Minister.

Energy: Gas

Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the current maximum number of days of reserves of gas stored in the United Kingdom.

Lord Marland: A simple calculation, which divides total storage capacity by average daily UK gas consumption in 2010, yields a figure of around 16.5 days of storage gas available. However this is not a meaningful figure as:
	overall deliverability constraints mean that we could not meet full daily demand from storage alone on any given day, nor would we need to as we have a diverse source of gas supplies, from indigenous production to a variety of pipeline and LNG import sources;due to their physical characteristics, some storage facilities would be emptied faster than 16.5 days whereas others could provide gas for much longer than 16.5 days; andover a typical winter some facilities would be expected to replenish ensuring a greater actual capacity available than that assumed in the calculation above. The rate at which this happens is driven by the market and is therefore not included in the calculation.

Energy: Gas

Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase the quantity of gas stored in reserve in the United Kingdom.

Lord Marland: Under the GB market arrangements commercial operators determine the volumes of gas held in storage.
	Shippers, whose responsibility it is to ensure inputs and off-takes into the transmission system are exactly balanced, are incentivised to do so through the cash-out regime, which ensures they are charged at the system marginal price to the extent they are out of balance. Storage is one of a number of flexibility tools available to shippers to meet this balance; there are other supply side tools, such as imports from a diverse range of routes (LNG from global markets, pipeline from Norway and the Continent, domestic production) as well as demand-side measures-such as entering into interruptible contracts with their customers, or fuel-switching in the power sector. The extent to which shippers rely on any of these tools is a commercial matter, and a potential source of competitive advantage.
	Government have brought forward proposals to sharpen these commercial incentives through Clause 79 of the current Energy Bill. Subject to parliamentary approval, the clause would confer on Ofgem the ability to make changes to the cash-out regime to reduce the duration, likelihood and severity of a gas supply emergency. In so doing, this should help underpin commercial demand for additional flexibility options, such as holding more gas in store.

Equality Act 2010 (Statutory Duties) Regulations 2011

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord De Mauley on 26 April (WA 43), what aspects of the Equality and Human Rights Commission's guidance relating to the requirement on public authorities to provide information on the race, disability, gender, age breakdown and distribution of their workforces will be revised to take account of the 17 March policy review paper on those duties.

Baroness Verma: The Equality and Human Rights Commission will be revising its draft guidance comprehensively to take account of the final draft regulations, which will be laid before Parliament in due course.

EU: Eggs

Baroness Byford: To ask Her Majesty's Government what enforcement measures they intend to put in place to ensure that egg producers in European Union member states who will not be compliant with the 1999 European Union Directive on the welfare of laying hens by 1 January 2012 are not able to sell their products in the United Kingdom.

Lord Henley: We wish to protect compliant producers from any competitive disadvantage of illegal production in other member states or indeed the UK. The Secretary of State has urged the Commission to put additional enforcement measures in place at European Union level to prevent market disturbance.
	One of the options proposed at a stakeholder meeting in Brussels in January 2011 was for the introduction of a time-limited intra-Community trade ban which would restrict the sale of eggs and egg products which continue to be produced from conventional cages after 2012 from being exported outside that member state's border. This and other options are still under consideration by the Commission's legal services.
	The UK has consistently called for the ban to be implemented in 2012 with strict enforcement by the EU and we will continue to play a full part in EU discussions on a practical enforcement solution.

EU: Milk

Baroness Byford: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they support the European Commission's recommendation for a dairy package which would allow member states to introduce minimum legal standards for milk contracts.

Lord Henley: We can accept much of the European Commission's Dairy Package as currently drafted. With regard to the proposals on contracts, the Government agree with the Commission that member states should be free to decide whether to make them compulsory. We can also accept the proposals on inter-branch organisations and transparency, so long as these do not create additional burden, have funding implications, or distort inter-state trade.
	Under the Commission proposals, milk producers could also collaborate and set up producer organisations. This would be a good opportunity to enhance their bargaining power. As for the scale of negotiations between milk producers and processors, we would prefer to see measures based on providing greater clarity of existing competition law and what producers may do collectively, based on the concept of a relevant market, rather than the Commission's approach of exemption from competition law and limits based upon national milk production. This would enable producers to enhance their bargaining power within the existing law.

EU: Republic of Cyprus

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Howell of Guildford on 13 May (WA 251), whether they are aware of any threats by the Greek Government in 2004 to veto the accession to the European Union of the countries of central and eastern Europe unless the island of Cyprus was admitted as the "Republic of Cyprus"; and whether they consider that such a threat would have constituted a breach of European Union rules.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Government are not aware of any threat by the Greek Government to veto the accession to the European Union of the countries of central and eastern Europe after the Treaty of Accession was signed in 2003. Decisions to admit new member states to the EU are taken by unanimity.

Fluoridation

Earl Baldwin of Bewdley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Warner on 9 October 2006 (WA 38), (a) when and in what form guidance was issued to Strategic Health Authorities about monitoring appropriate health indices relating to the effects of existing water fluoridation schemes; and (b) how many health monitoring schemes are now in operation.

Earl Howe: A duty to monitor the effects of fluoridation on persons living in areas covered by fluoridation schemes was inserted in Section 90 A of the Water Industry Act 1991 by the Water Act 2003. Strategic health authorities (SHAs) were required to publish a report on the results of the monitoring at four yearly intervals. This section of the Act was commenced in February 2009 but, as the order which applied the provisions of the Act to the existing pre-1985 fluoridation schemes was not made until March 2010, the first reports are not due until March 2014. We have just undertaken a consultation with academic experts on the indicators which might be monitored. We shall be issuing guidance to SHAs after considering the comments received. Public Health Observatories already publish health profiles with overviews of health for each local authority. These show no significant variation between the health of residents in fluoridated areas and elsewhere except that oral health is better in areas where the level of fluoride in the water supply is around the one milligram per litre level. The more detailed monitoring will build upon these findings.

Fluoridation

Earl Baldwin of Bewdley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Warner on 24 March 2006 (WA 88) and Lord Darzi of Denham on 1 October 2007 (WA 146), (a) what high quality research into the association of water fluoridation with infant mortality, congenital defects, bone problems and IQ they have carried out as recommended in section 12.4 of the 2000 report of the York systematic review; and (b) which part of the Written Answer of 24 March 2006 is a quotation from the Department of Health report on Health and Human Subjects 41 in 1994, and which part forms a commitment to research, and whether they will reissue the Written Answer accordingly.

Earl Howe: Following publication of the York report, the department funded the Medical Research Council to identify areas of uncertainty regarding the balance of benefits and risks of water fluoridation, and to make appropriate recommendations for research to address these uncertainties. The department has since funded the School of Dental Sciences at Newcastle University to compare the bioavailability of fluoride in naturally fluoridated water with artificially fluoridated water. Currently, the School of Dentistry at Manchester University is investigating the prevalence and severity of dental fluorosis with funds from the NHS National Institute for Health Research. We are also considering an evaluation of a new fluoridation scheme to address further recommendations in the York report to strengthen the evidence base on fluoridation. The quotation from the report on Health and Human Subjects 41 ends at "....a further wide safety margin above the more usual fluoride intakes in fluoridated areas".

Forced Marriage

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ensure that the Forced Marriage Unit's current review considers measures to extend the statutory guidance to all agencies in all parts of the country.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The multi-agency statutory guidance for dealing with forced marriage applies to all persons and bodies in England and Wales who exercise public functions in relation to safeguarding children and adults. It also applies to third parties who exercise public functions on behalf of those persons or bodies.
	The review intends to evaluate how agencies have applied the strategic principles for dealing with forced marriage as set out within the guidance, with a view to identifying patterns, good practice and possible areas for improvement.
	We understand that Scotland and Northern Ireland are developing their own statutory guidance. We will share the findings of our review with them to inform their work.

Forced Marriage

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will provide more support to enable and encourage teachers to protect children against the risks of forced marriage; and whether they will ask Ofsted to have particular regard to the implementation of the statutory guidance on forced marriage in assessing school arrangements.

Lord Hill of Oareford: The Government already provide considerable support to protect children against the risk of forced marriage, which is a serious form of child abuse. The joint Home Office/Foreign and Commonwealth Office Forced Marriage Unit (FMU), which was launched in January 2005, provides advice to teachers in schools. The FMU produced statutory guidance on Forced Marriage in 2008 (revised 2010); revised multi-agency practice guidelines on handling cases of forced marriage in 2009; and supplementary guidelines on handling cases of forced marriage involving persons with learning disabilities in 2010. The guidance documents are targeted at frontline practitioners and volunteers.
	In schools, the risks relating to forced marriage are principally, although not exclusively, explored within personal, social, health and economic education (PHSE). An internal review into PHSE will determine how we can support schools to improve the quality of all PHSE teaching. It is for individual schools to decide how to address forced marriage issues, according to the needs of their pupils.
	The Government are committed to refocusing school inspection around the core areas of pupil achievement, teaching, leadership and behaviour safety. The issue of forced marriage may be relevant to inspectors' evaluation of schools' arrangements for keeping pupils safe. If concerns are brought to the attention of inspectors they will be expected to satisfy themselves that the school is doing everything it can to support pupils. There are no plans to ask Ofsted to consider compliance with statutory guidance on forced marriage as part of every school inspection or for forced marriage to be covered specifically as a discrete aspect of an inspection.

Foreign Country: Definition

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their definition of a foreign country.

Lord Howell of Guildford: Depending on the context and the circumstances, the term "foreign country" would normally be interpreted as meaning a country outside the UK and the Commonwealth. The term can be given a specific meaning in legislation; under the British Nationality Act 1981, Section 50(1) the term is defined for the purposes of that Act as meaning a country other than the United Kingdom, a British overseas territory, a country mentioned in Schedule 3 (Commonwealth countries) and the Republic of Ireland.

Gangmasters

The Duke of Montrose: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in each of the past three years, how many applications for a gangmaster licence have been for businesses with (a) 1-2 employees, (b) 3-5 employees, (c) 6-15 employees, and (d) over 16 employees.

Lord Henley: The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) does not hold figures for the number of workers employed by licence holders as they do not use this information when processing licence applications. However, the GLA does hold information on the size of the financial turnover in the regulated sectors for each business that holds a gangmasters licence as it is this that determines the level of the licence fee charged.
	There are four licence fee bands:
	
		
			 Annual Turnover in the GLA regulated sector Fee Band 
			 £10 million or more A 
			 From £5 million to less than £10 million B 
			 From £1 million to less than £5 million C 
			 Less than £1 million D 
		
	
	For each of those bands, for each of the past three financial years, the number of licence holders (consisting of new and renewal applications) is:
	
		
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 
			 A 13 18 17 
			 B 22 16 20 
			 C 172 164 152 
			 D 1,083 1,042 979

Gangmasters

The Duke of Montrose: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will give consideration to exempting rural fencing contractors from the provisions of the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 under Section 3(5) of that act.

Lord Henley: The Government have no plans to exempt rural fencing contractors from the provisions of the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004. However, fencing contractors already benefit from an exclusion from licensing in the Gangmasters Licensing (Exclusions) Regulations 2010 provided they use directly employed workers to operate, or support the operation of powered machinery they own or lease.

Government: Ministerial Visits

Lord Ashcroft: To ask Her Majesty's Government when was the last time a Minister visited Tuvalu.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has no records of a Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister visiting either Nauru or Tuvalu.

Health: Cancer

The Countess of Mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the comparative rates for the occurrence of all cancers in airline crews, farmers, and Gulf War Veterans as a percentage of the whole population within the age range 25 to 55 years for each of the past 10 years.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, Director General for ONS, to the Countess of Mar dated June 2011.
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question, asking what are the comparative rates for occurrence of all cancers in airline crews, farmers and Gulf War Veterans as percentage of the whole population within the age range 25 to 55 years for each of the past 10 years. [HL9624]
	The information requested is not available, as occupation is not routinely recorded on individual cancer registrations.
	ONS publishes figures on the comparative risk of death from various causes, including cancer, by occupational group. These reports are available on the National Statistics web site at: www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vink=1624
	The Health and Safety Executive publishes information on certain cancers which are linked to occupational exposures. The latest report is available at: www.hse. gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr800.htm.
	The latest published figures on the incidence of cancer in England are available on the National Statistics website at: www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme health/mbl-39/mbl-no39-2008.pdf.

Health: Chiropody

Lord Harrison: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to introduce legislation governing the provision of chiropody services.

Earl Howe: There are no plans to legislate for the provision of chiropody services. It is the responsibility of local National Health Service organisations to commission services to meet the needs of their community including the provision of chiropody services. This will continue in the future.

Health: Hydrotherapy

Lord Luce: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the range and number of NHS hydrotherapy pools available to NHS patients; whether pools are available in all regions in England; and to what extent existing public or private pools are available for the use of NHS patients.

Earl Howe: The department does not collect data centrally on the availability of hydrotherapy treatment pools in England.
	National Health Service organisations will decide locally on the provision of hydrotherapy pools based on the clinical needs of their patients. The decision will be informed by their strategies for responding to those needs and the local availability of hydrotherapy pools, both public and private.

Health: Podiatry

Lord Harrison: To ask Her Majesty's Government what regulation there is regarding the use of the term "podiatric surgeon" by non-qualified practitioners to advertise their services.

Earl Howe: Podiatrists are regulated by the Health Professions Council (HPC) and certain podiatrists who have completed post-registration education and training do carry out some surgical tasks. The title "podiatric surgeon" is not protected in law but should a podiatrist carry out such surgical tasks without appropriate training and experience then they are at risk of action from the HPC, for acting outside of their scope of practice. The HPC has taken such action in the past.
	All healthcare professionals, including podiatrists, who perform surgery in England are required to register with the Care Quality Commission, except where providing nail surgery and nail bed procedures on any area of the foot, and the curettage, cautery or cryocautery of warts, verrucae or other skin lesions on any area of the foot.

House of Lords: Catering

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask the Chairman of Committees what the House of Lords Catering and Retail Services Department are doing to support British farmers and growers.

Lord Brabazon of Tara: Where possible, ingredients and produce used in all catering outlets in the House are sourced from the United Kingdom. Ninety per cent of all meat products come from the United Kingdom and all fish products are sourced from sustainable stocks. Fruit and vegetables are sourced from the United Kingdom when in season, although some of the popular produce has to be sourced from abroad when out of season.

House of Lords: Fair Trade Products

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask the Chairman of Committees what action the Catering and Retail Services Department of the House of Lords is taking to make maximum use of fair trade products.

Lord Brabazon of Tara: Catering and Retail Services (CRS) use a number of fair trade branded products which include the standard tea bags used in all outlets (excluding the fruit or speciality teas), drinking chocolate, sugar sachets, some chocolate confectionery products and bananas (when available from the market).
	Furthermore, CRS also uses other methods of ethical sourcing. The range of finest teas served in the Peers' Dining Room is sourced from an ethically responsible supplier which gives an assurance that it uses fair trade principles. The filter, bulk brew and espresso coffee supplied to all outlets is UTZ certified, which provides an assurance of responsible coffee production. However, there are a number of coffee pod products used for speciality coffees which are not fair trade.

House of Lords: Reform

Lord Jopling: To ask the Leader of the House whether the forthcoming debate on the Government's proposals for reform of the House of Lords will end in a vote, so that it is possible for the Lords' members of the Joint Committee scrutinising the Draft Bill and White Paper to be appointed to reflect accurately the views of the House as a whole.

Lord Strathclyde: The forthcoming debate on the Government's proposals for reform of the House of Lords set out in Cm 8077 will take place on a Motion to take note of those proposals. Such Motions are usually agreed to (Companion to the Standing Orders and Guide to the Proceedings of the House of Lords, Para. 6.54). The debate has been scheduled in order to provide an opportunity for those Members participating in the debate to put their views on record.

Houses of Parliament: Legislation

Lord Jopling: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether a free vote of Members of either House of Parliament is possible on a Government Bill.

Lord Strathclyde: This is not a matter for which the Government are responsible but rather a matter for each party or group.

Housing

Baroness King of Bow: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many claimants in Tower Hamlets are in receipt of the Shared Room Rate of Local Housing Allowance.

Lord Freud: It is estimated that in Tower Hamlets 1,150 claimants were receiving the Shared Accommodation Rate of Local Housing Allowance in March 2010.
	Source: Equality Impact Assessment of the increase to the Shared Accommodation Rate age threshold, available on the DWP website at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/eia-hb-shared-accommodation-age- threshold.pdf.

Housing

Baroness King of Bow: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many local housing allowance claimants living in the private rented sector in Tower Hamlets are between 25 and 35 years old.

Lord Freud: In Tower Hamlets in February 2011 there were 1,870 local housing allowance claims in the 25 to 34 age group. This includes single claimants and couples, with and without children.
	Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE).
	Notes:
	1. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.
	2. The age of a couple is based on the elder of the claimant and their partner.
	3. Recipients are as at the second Thursday of the month.
	4. SHBE is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. It replaces quarterly aggregate clerical returns.

Human Rights

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Howell of Guildford on 13 May (WA 250) concerning criteria for their recognition of states, what are the international human rights obligations with which all states are expected to comply; and what action they take if a state does not comply with those obligations.

Lord Howell of Guildford: All states have obligations under the human rights treaties to which they are a party. All states are also bound by peremptory norms of international law (for example the prohibition against torture) even if they are not party to a particular treaty containing such a peremptory norm. If a state does not comply with its human rights obligations, the Government can and do, when appropriate, raise their concerns with the Government of the state concerned.

Human Rights

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what human rights issues have been discussed with the Vatican in the past 12 months.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We have a regular dialogue with the Holy See on human rights issues. Over the past 12 months our embassy to the Holy See has discussed a range of issues with their Holy See interlocutors, including questions of religious freedom, discrimination against minorities, and the rights of women.

Iraq: Camp Ashraf

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make representations to the Government of the United States to honour the guarantees they gave as an occupying power in 2003 to the residents of Camp Ashraf in Iraq.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We have no plans to make representations to the United States of America. The United States of America handed over responsibility for Camp Ashraf to the Iraqi Government in January 2009. We and our international partners continue to monitor events in Camp Ashraf closely and we have expressed our strong concerns to the Iraqi Government about the recent events and the appalling loss of life and injury that ensued.

Israel and Palestine

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the killing of Palestinian refugees on Nakba Day by Israeli forces; and what discussions they have had with the Government of Israel regarding this.

Lord Howell of Guildford: Demonstrations took place in many countries across the Middle East on the weekend of 13-15 May 2011. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) issued a statement on 15 May 2011 expressing his concerns and regret:
	"I am deeply concerned by the violence on Israel's borders today and saddened by the loss of life. I call on all parties to exercise restraint and ensure that civilian life is protected. These developments make clearer than ever that a lasting and comprehensive resolution to the conflicts in the region is urgently needed and will only be achieved through negotiation".

Javid Houtan Kian

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what information they have about the wellbeing of the Iranian lawyer, Javid Houtan Kian.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We are aware of reports alleging the torture of Javid Houtan Kian and his sentencing to seven years in jail with a further four-year suspended sentence. We are working to verify this information with international partners, but if true, both constitute gross violations of Mr Kian's human rights. Mr Kian was a court-appointed lawyer simply defending his client to the best of his ability. The harassment he and his family have been subject to is entirely unacceptable and should cease. We raised his case with the Iranian Embassy in London on 18 May 2011.

Libya

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the value in United States dollars of oil exported by the Government of Libya since the passing of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We are not aware of any exports of crude oil by the Libyan regime since late February 2011

Libya

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government which countries have imported oil from Libya since the passing of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The UK does not hold comprehensive information on countries that have imported oil from Libya since the passing of UNSCR 1973. The Libyan Government and any importing states are best positioned to provide the detail required.

Libya

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the international community's response to the United Nations' Flash Appeal for Libya; and what contributions they will make to support this humanitarian work.

Baroness Verma: The United Nations Flash Appeal for Libya is currently 46 per cent funded. Many Western and Arab countries have already provided generous support and we continue to press others to ensure that everyone contributes their share.
	The UK is currently the third largest contributor to the Flash Appeal. We have helped fly home more than 12,700 migrant workers who fled Libya, provided emergency shelter for up to 12,000 people who have been displaced by fighting, and funded the emergency evacuation of around 5,000 people from Misurata. Our humanitarian assistance has also helped pay for the supply of urgently needed food, medical supplies and medical personnel.
	We continue to work with other donors and key international humanitarian partners to identify needs and provide appropriate support.

Lindis Percy

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the cost to public funds of the prosecution brought by the Attorney General against Lindis Percy for alleged trespass, which was dismissed by the District Judge at Bury Magistrates' Court on 5 April 2011.

Lord Wallace of Tankerness: Lindis Percy was prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) after consent had been given by the Attorney General's for the prosecution to take place. It is estimated that the prosecution's costs in this case will be in the region of £945. This figure relates to counsel advocacy costs and does not include staff or running costs, which are attributable to the operation of the CPS as a whole and cannot be assessed on an individual case basis.
	It is not possible to provide a reliable estimate of the court costs for this case without incurring a disproportionate cost.
	There were no costs incurred by the defence to public funds in this case.

Lindis Percy

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the case brought by the Attorney General against Lindis Percy for alleged trespass, who paid for the return flight from Nevada of the key US military witness, Kyler Sherman Brown; and whether any other persons from the United States had travel costs paid to attend this case.

Lord Wallace of Tankerness: Senior Airman Brown was flown back from the United States to give evidence. All costs of flight and overnight accommodation were met by the United States Air Force (USAF). There were accordingly no additional costs incurred by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in calling him as a witness. Given the occupations, nationalities and location of the other witnesses called, no travel expenses were paid by the CPS.

Middle East: Ancient Churches

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will discuss with their international partners the status of ancient churches in the Middle East; and whether representations should be made to national Governments regarding measures to protect minorities.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The effective promotion of human rights, including religious freedom, is at the very heart of our foreign policy. We will continue to raise freedom of religion or belief with other Governments when necessary. We will also work in the UN and with other international organisations to uphold universal standard, including the status of churches in the middle east. The UK will continue to defend the right of all people to practise their religion or belief freely.
	All of our embassies and high commissions have a responsibility to monitor and raise human rights in their host countries. Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff routinely raise our concerns with host Governments and where possible they take action on individual cases and lobby for changes in discriminatory practices and laws.

Northern Ireland Office: Bonuses

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much has been paid in bonuses to staff in the Northern Ireland Office in the past year; and how many staff received bonuses.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: During the 2010-11 financial year the Northern Ireland Office made reward and recognition payments totalling £13,650 to staff working in the department through the in-year Reward and Recognition scheme. The reward payments were made to 39 members of staff.

Northern Ireland Office: Staff

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are proposing to reduce the staff salaries and related costs in the Northern Ireland Office.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: The department will reduce its baseline budget by 25 per cent during the Spending Review Period as agreed with HM Treasury. This will include reductions in staff salary and related costs.

Northern Ireland Office: Taxis

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what taxi journeys paid for by the office were made by staff of the Northern Ireland Office on Friday 13 May; from where to where; at what cost; for what reasons; and who authorised the expense.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: There was one taxi journey paid for by the Northern Ireland Office on Friday 13 May. The journey was from Belfast (residential address) to Stormont House. The cost was £4.35. The journey was made for work-related purposes and was authorised by the relevant line manager.

Overseas Aid

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by the Secretary of State for International Development, Mr Andrew Mitchell, on 5 April (Official Report, Commons, col. 58WS), for each financial year from 2005-06 to the present what was the annual funding for (a) Peacekeeping (non-official development assistance (ODA)), (b) Conflict Pool total, (c) ODA conflict pool funding, (d) non-ODA conflict pool, and (e) total settlement, divided into (1) non-ODA, and (2) ODA.

Baroness Verma: The Government have only reported Official Development Assistance (ODA) from the Peacekeeping Budget since Financial Year 2006-07. Since then, the amount of ODA reported from the Peacekeeping Budget has increased, in line with changes to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Development Assistance Committee's (OECD DAC) guidelines on what can be reported as ODA and as a result of more systematic reporting.
	The Conflict Pool as it is currently structured has only existed since Financial Year 2009-10. Until Financial Year 2007-08, the Africa Conflict Prevention Pool (ACPP), which was part of the Department for International Development's baseline, and the Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP), which was part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's baseline, were separate budgets. Official Development Assistance (ODA) for the ACPP and GCPP was aggregated with Departments' own ODA reporting; the ODA figures for Financial Years 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 in the table above are therefore estimated. At the start of Financial Year 2008-09, a new joint conflict resources settlement merged the ACPP and GCPP into a single Conflict Prevention Pool and created a new instrument, the Stabilisation Aid Fund (SAF), which provided resources for stabilisation activities in Iraq and Afghanistan. The SAF was merged into the Conflict Prevention Pool the following financial year and a single Conflict Pool was established. ODA and non-ODA figures for Financial Year 2010-11 are provisional. Final ODA figures for the Conflict Pool and the Peacekeeping Budget for 2010 will be published in Statistics on International Development in October 2011. A copy will be provided to the Library of the House in due course.
	The following table gives details of annual expenditure on the Peacekeeping Budget and the Conflict Pool, broken down by financial year and divided into ODA and non-ODA expenditure:
	
		
			 Conflict Expenditure, 2005-2010 (£m) 
			  FY 05/06 FY 06/07 FY 07/08 FY 08/09 FY 09/10 FY 10/11 
			 Global Conflict Prevention Pool ODA (estimated) 29.5 31.1 17.2
			 Global Conflict Prevention Pool non- ODA (estimated) 48.8 47.2 63.2
			 Global Conflict Prevention Pool Total 78.3 78.3 80.4
			 Africa Conflict Prevention Pool ODA (estimated) 17.8 26.3 31.3
			 Africa Conflict Prevention Pool non-ODA (estimated) 30.4 30.6 28.8
			 Africa Conflict Prevention Pool Total 48.2 56.9 60.1
			 Conflict Prevention Pool ODA70.9   
			 Conflict Prevention Pool non-ODA43.2   
			 Conflict Prevention Pool Total114.1   
			 Stabilisation Aid Fund ODA62.1   
			 Stabilisation Aid Fund non-ODA9.5   
			 Stabilisation Aid Fund Total71.6   
			 Conflict Pool ODA 118.5 93 * 
			 Conflict Pool non-ODA 62 86.7 * 
			 Conflict Pool Total 180.5 179.7 
			 Conflict Pool ODA Total 47.3 57.4 48.5 133 118.5 93 * 
			 Conflict Pool non-ODA Total 79.2 77.8 92 52.7 62 86.7 * 
			 CONFLICT POOL TOTAL 126.5 135.2 140.5 185.7 180.5 179.7 
			 Peacekeeping non-ODA 326.1 357.8 356 360 334.3 382.4 * 
			 Peacekeeping ODA 0 12.9 15.2 48.1 43.8 48.8 * 
			 PEACEKEEPING TOTAL 326.1 370.7 371.2 408.1 378.1 431.2 
			 TOTAL CONFLICT RESOURCES 452.6 505.9 511.7 593.8 558.6 610.9 
			 Of which ODA 47.3 70.3 63.7 181.1 162.3 141.8 * 
			 Of which non-ODA 405.3 435.6 448 412.7 396.3 469.1 * 
		
	
	* Provisional figures

Overseas Aid

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of United Kingdom official development assistance was allocated to OECD DAC codes 15230 (participation in peacekeeping operations) and 15220 (civilian peacebuilding, conflict prevention and resolution) in (a) 2005-06, (b) 2007-08, and (c) 2009-10 .

Baroness Verma: Details of UK Official Development Assistance are published on the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development's Development Assistance Committee (OECD DAC) website www.oecd.org/dac and are available to download from their online database at http://stats.oecd.org/qwids/. The relevant figures are reproduced below.
	
		
			  2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 
			 Total UK ODA £5,926m £6,770m £4,921m £6,356m £7,356m 
			 15220: Civilian peace-building, conflict prevention and resolution na na £97m £194m £195m 
			 % Total UK ODA   2% 3% 3% 
			 15230 Post-conflict peace-building (UN) £2m £2m £1m £3m £14m 
			 % Total UK ODA <1% <1% <1% <1% <1%

Overseas Aid

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of United Kingdom official development assistance is allocated to OECD DAC codes 15230 (participation in peacekeeping operations) and 15220 (civilian peacebuilding, conflict prevention and resolution) in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2013-14, and (c) 2015-16.

Baroness Verma: Future UK Official Development Assistance has not yet been allocated to this level of detail.

Passports

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to introducing a requirement that all British passport holders register with the Home Office Identity and Passport Service details of any valid non-British passports that they hold.

Baroness Browning: There are no current proposals to introduce a requirement for British passport holders to provide the Identity and Passport Service with details of any valid non-British passports held simultaneously. The key information of the name, date of birth, place of birth and photograph of a person holding a British and a non-British passport will be the same.

People Trafficking

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that United Kingdom experience in the implementation of human trafficking legislation and its enforcement, since the United Kingdom's ratification of the United Nations human trafficking protocol, will be shared with enforcement agencies in India.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We warmly welcome the recent announcement that the Government of India has ratified the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and its three protocols, including the protocol on human trafficking. We hope that this will provide additional momentum to the Government of India's efforts to fight human trafficking and to ensure that the provisions of the protocol are enforced effectively.
	We support co-operation between UK and Indian enforcement agencies in a range of areas and will continue to engage the Indian authorities on measures to combat human trafficking and illegal immigration, including offering UK experience and expertise where appropriate.
	The UK Government are committed to working with international partners to address the problem of human trafficking. The issue was raised with the Government of India at the last EU-India Human Rights dialogue, held on 22 March 2011. The EU is currently funding three major anti-trafficking projects in India (and neighbouring countries) with local partners through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights. Our High Commission in New Delhi is involved in a pilot project to improve the exchange of information between agencies dealing with the prevention of trafficking and the rehabilitation of victims of commercial sexual exploitation in India. And the Department for International Development is currently developing a new regional programme aiming to reduce human trafficking across the South Asia region, including in India.

People Trafficking

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to increase the conviction rates for human trafficking offences.

Baroness Browning: The Government's forthcoming strategy on human trafficking will set out the steps we will take to strengthen our response, including how we will improve co-ordination of law enforcement efforts in the UK.
	The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is currently taking a number of actions to increase the number of successful prosecutions for human trafficking, including encouraging victims of trafficking to engage with criminal proceedings. The CPS will shortly be publishing a public policy statement on how they deal with victims of human trafficking. This will provide information for practitioners and the public on what can be done to protect and support victims who decide to give evidence.
	The CPS is also working with other jurisdictions through joint investigation teams to target trafficking chains and to develop improved co-operation with other jurisdictions to allow for better mutual legal assistance.

Philippines

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the progress of the International Contact Group towards resolving the conflict between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Government of the Philippines; what the annual budget of the group is; how much the United Kingdom has contributed to the group in terms of cash or personnel; and how long they expect the group will have to continue working.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The International Contact Group (ICG) continues to support the resolution of the conflict between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Government of the Philippines as the peace talks continue.
	The UK is one of four state members of the ICG. The ICG consists of four impartial states and a number of non-state organisations and was set up to complement the Malaysian facilitation of the peace process and to offer impartial advice and international oversight to both sides. The Government of the Philippines and MILF signed an accord on 15 September 2009 to form the ICG. This accord was one of the three accords required for official peace talks to proceed.
	Both peace panels have expressed their ongoing support for the work of the ICG, and have thanked UK for its involvement. Both sides have reiterated that the role of the ICG should continue to be as a support mechanism and a validation of the process. The ICG does not act as a facilitator.
	The ICG has no budget. ICG members are responsible for finding the resources necessary for their individual commitments. Membership does not entail any commitment of additional funding for project work or development assistance.
	We have no personnel working exclusively on the ICG. Where invited by the Facilitator and peace panels, a UK official attends each session of peace talks in Kuala Lumpur. This is either a Kuala Lumpur based diplomat or a Manila based diplomat. There have been two rounds of talks so far in 2011. The UK contributes no cash funding to the ICG.
	ICG members may review their commitment as appropriate. Further, when a final peace agreement is reached, the ICG, Facilitator, MILF and Government of the Philippines should review its role and membership.

Plastic Bags

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the possibility raised by Mr Janez Potocnik, European Union Environmental Commissioner, of a European Union-wide ban on plastic carrier bags.

Lord Henley: The Commission is currently consulting on a number of possible options for the reduction in the use of plastic carrier bags.
	We will be engaging in this consultation.

RAF Valley

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Astor of Hever on 18 May (WA 352), when the scoping review on the future needs of medical facilities at RAF Valley began; when it is expected to be completed; and what further work will then be undertaken.

Lord Astor of Hever: The scoping review on the future needs of medical facilities at RAF Valley began in January 201 1 and is expected to complete in the summer. Following this work. it is anticipated that an assessment study will be initiated, which will consider options for the way forward including, for example, the need to refurbish, rebuild or outsource alternative medical facilities. No decisions have been taken pending the outcome of this work.

Re-Export Controls Bill

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Wilcox on 26 April (WA 94), on what basis the decision was taken to oppose the Re-Export Controls Bill being referred to a Second Reading Committee in the House of Commons; and whether previous precedents of Private Members' Bills being referred to such a Committee were considered.

Baroness Wilcox: As I stated in my reply of 26 April, I regret that the Government are unable to support the Re-export Controls Bill during its Commons stage, and the motion to refer the Bill to a Second Reading Committee was not supported on that basis. I can confirm that precedents for such referrals were considered as part of that decision.

Re-Export Controls Bill

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Wilcox on 26 April (WA 94), what discussions they had with (a) ministerial colleagues in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and (b) other ministerial colleagues, prior to taking their decision to oppose a Motion to refer the Re-Export Controls Bill to a Second Reading Committee.

Baroness Wilcox: Mark Prisk is the Minister for export controls and I have worked with him on the Government's response to the Re-export Controls Bill. The appropriate Cabinet Committee clearance was obtained before I expressed my reservations about the Bill on 3 December.

Re-Export Controls Bill

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Wilcox on 26 April (WA 94), what was the evidential basis for the reservations expressed by Baroness Wilcox about the Re-Export Controls Bill on 3 December 2010; and who was consulted prior to those reservations being expressed.

Baroness Wilcox: Discussions on arms export controls take place between EU member states in the Council Working Group on Conventional Arms and between participating states in the Wassenaar arrangement. The information we have received from our EU partners with regards to re-export controls has informed the evidence base for our position on the Re-Export Controls Bill.
	The UK export control system, while administered by the Export Control Organisation within BIS, is a cross-Whitehall effort involving the FCO, MoD and other Government Departments. The FCO was consulted, alongside the appropriate Cabinet Committee, before I expressed reservations about the Bill on 3 December.

Re-Export Controls Bill

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Wilcox on 26 April (WA 94), whether they will reconsider their decision to oppose a Motion in the House of Commons to refer the Re-Export Controls Bill to a Second Reading Committee.

Baroness Wilcox: I regret that the Government are not minded to reconsider this decision at this time.

Regional Development Agencies

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assets are owned by the North West Development Agency; what assets have been disposed of since May 2010; and to whom.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assets are owned by Yorkshire Forward; what assets have been disposed of since May 2010; and to whom.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assets are owned by One North East; what assets have been disposed of since May 2010; and to whom.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assets are owned by Advantage West Midlands; what assets have been disposed of since May 2010; and to whom.

Baroness Wilcox: A comprehensive list of Regional Development Agency (RDA) owned land and property assets can be found in the Library of the House. RDA boards remain responsible for determining which RDA assets are subject to disposal. They have put forward proposals, to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), to dispose of around 20 per cent of their land and property assets, in the short term and on the open market, as part of an orderly wind down. This information has been made public via the BIS website and the Library of the House. In many instances these assets would have been sold in any event as the RDAs have long established programmes of bringing properties to market when development is completed.
	A schedule of assets disposed of by the North West Development Agency, Advantage West Midlands, Yorkshire Forward and One North East since May 2010 and to whom will be placed in the Library of the House.

Roads: Litter

Lord Willoughby de Broke: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in the light of the litter problem caused by wrappings from fast-food outlets, they will consider imposing a tax on such outlets to cover the cost of retrieving and disposing of that litter.

Lord Henley: There are no plans at present to impose a tax on fast-food outlets to cover the cost of retrieving and disposing of wrappings litter.
	However, local authorities do have powers to prosecute or fine food retail outlets that fail to clean up accumulations of litter outside of their premises.
	The Government also believe that behaviour change is a vital element in overcoming the issue of littering, and is working closely with the charity Keep Britain Tidy, for example through the Love Where You Live campaign funded by business.

Rosemary Nelson Inquiry

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much, broken down by major cost headings, was spent in the Rosemary Nelson inquiry.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: A full breakdown of the cost of the Rosemary Nelson inquiry is available on the Northern Ireland Office website www.nio.gov.uk.

RSPB: Grants

Baroness Byford: To ask Her Majesty's Government what grants (a) the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (b) the Environment Agency, (c) Natural England, and (d) the Forestry Commission have given to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds over each of the past five years.

Lord Henley: The table below represents payments made by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds over each of the last five years and the description identifies the programme objective. To identify specific grant payments within these would incur disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  2010-11 2009-10 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 
			 Avian Influenza Preparedness 125,605 133,135 128,747   
			 Axis II Policy   173   
			 Common Agricultural Policy Reform Implementation 5,000 
			 Darwin Initiative 667,147 314,274 381,559 444,930 406,359 
			 Ecosystems Approach Project  529
			 England Biodiversity Strategy  264  10,000  
			 Environmental Behaviours Policy   6,093   
			 Environmental Stewardship R&D 85,499 175,622 277,544 165,652 79,681 
			 Farmland Conservation 185,417 
			 Habitat Monitoring 7,181 2,391 9,627 4,697  
			 International Sustainable Development   18,000   
			 Marine Environment Research Programme   110   
			 Municipal Waste and Culture Change   854   
			 Pesticides18,442  
			 Promotion of Sustainable Development72,000 42,000 
			 R&D Marine Programme 23,933 
			 RSPB's ISB Round 7FM Project   54,300 43,422 71,509 
			 SCP and Waste Programme evidence   58,239 10,490 30,460 
			 SCP Evidence  40,949
			 Strategic relationship management: THIRD SECTOR strategy  1,200
			 Sustainable Livestock Farming 2,792 
			 WAC Corporate Support  4,416
			 Waste statistical evidence 19,543   52,702  
			 Wildlife and Countryside Publicity  920 449 400 423 
			 Wildlife Habitats and Biodiversity 176 
		
	
	The Environment Agency has not given any grants to the RSPB in this period.
	The Environment Agency has made direct payments of £5.9 million to RSPB over the past five years, £3 million of this relates specifically to the Wallasea Island Habitat Project in the Anglian Region. The remainder has been for collaborative projects and contributions to a range of sustainability initiatives.
	The payments in each year were:
	2006-07-£224,591.15;2007-08-£303,308.18; 2008-09-£1,174,985.72; 2009-10-£2,523,053.66; and 2010-11-£1,726,799.18.
	The table below details the payments Natural England have made to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds over each of the past four years. We do not have details of grants for the financial year 2006-07 as Natural England was not vested until October 2006.
	
		
			 Rural Development Programme for England spend to RSPB 
			  2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 
			 Countryside Stewardship Scheme 310,294.74 304,545.54 291,696.06 221,202.90 
			 Entry Level plus Higher Level Stewardship 247,996.09 328,345.28 852,758.71 819,942.97 
			 Entry Level Stewardship 6,941.50 7,285.26   
			 Environmentally Sensitive Areas 794,154.13 818,602.50 535,253.90 687,965.71 
			 ESA Conservation Plan 31,295.99 35,214.57 127,986.01 143,029.83 
			 Higher Level Stewardship 9,334.00 20,485.40 59,917.12 177,176.45 
			 Organic Farming Scheme 268.80 -   
			 Total 1,400,285.25 1,514,478.55 1,867,611.80 2,049,317.86 
		
	
	
		
			 Grant In Aid grant spend to RSPB 
			  2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 
			 Access to Nature Grant Scheme - - 61,539.40 172,689.61 
			 Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) 153,627.00 116,812.00 305,687.70 321,227.51 
			 Countdown 2010 Grants 81,901.00 119,469.00 196,152.19 302,129.24 
			 Natural Assets Grants - - 30,005.00 51,213.17 
			 Action for Birds in England Partnership AFBIE) 622,915.00 1,250,942.00 376,617.00 360,500.00 
			 Great Bustard Reintroduction - -  5,000.00 
			 Species Recovery Project - - 15,618.00 8,618.00 
			 Red Kite Recovery Project 20,000.00 - - - 
			 Species Recovery Project - - 39,892.78 38,020.92 
			 Biodiversity priority species - other - 3,000.00 8,000.00 6,500.00 
			 Farmland birds - 2,549.00 10,979.00 86,305.92 
			 Wetland Vision 5,000.00 10,000.00 337,751.34 228,607.82 
			 Restoration work at Leighton Moss - - 18,848.00  
			 NW wetland projects 40,213.00 -   
			 Wet grassland training course - - 1,449.00  
			 National Nature Reserves (NNR) 27,078 00 29,191.00 42,099.15 29,112.69 
			 SSSI management /condition assessments 33,023.00 65,916.00 78,155.61 40,119.22 
			 Nature After Minerals Project 13,953.00 34,751.00 40,760.00 49,902.00 
			 Campaign for the Farmed Environment (CFE) - - 287.50  
			 Climate Change Project 5,000.00 -   
			 Fens IBDA development - -  7,000.00 
			 Green infrastructure support and development - 49,436.00 113.85  
			 Heath Interreg Project - 3,866.00   
			 Hedge management event - 734.00   
			 Land management advisory work 2,000.00 2,740.00 172.50  
			 Leaflet on safe use of rodenticides   160.50  
			 Staff Secondments 3,415.00 922.00 12,863.00 410.40 
			 Reedbed hydrological survey-East Sussex  2,000.00   
			 South East England Biodiversity Forum (SEEBF)   2,300.00  
			 Total 1,008,125.00 1,692,328.00 1,579,451.52 1,707,356.50 
		
	
	The figures below are for grants awarded by the Forestry Commission under the English Woodland Grant Scheme to the RSPB.
	
		
			  2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 Total 
			 Total 47,168.73 67,008.28 47,599.97 93,105.76 72,291.89 327,174.63

Rugby World Cup 2015

Lord Pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are on track to ensure that infrastructure is in place around Twickenham for the Rugby World Cup in 2015.

Baroness Garden of Frognal: Twickenham station currently already serves passengers attending large rugby events on a regular basis. It is for Stagecoach Southwest Trains as the train and station operator at Twickenham to work with the British Transport Police, the Rugby Football Union and the local authority, to manage passenger flows at the station during special events. The operator has a significant amount of experience of major rugby internationals that take place at the stadium.
	We have not been made aware of wider infrastructure needs for Twickenham.

Saudi Arabia

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the rights of women in Saudi Arabia; and whether they have made representations to the Government of Saudi Arabia about how they could improve these.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We have serious concerns about the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia and we have made our views well known, including through the Universal Periodic Review process and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Human Rights Report. We have four priority areas, one of which is women's rights. At the root of the problem of the treatment of women in Saudi Arabia is the guardianship system, which grants a male relative authority over every woman. The male family member can refuse permission for the woman to study, travel or work. There is also an extensive system of segregation which limits women's ability to play a full part in public life. Women, with some exceptions, may not work in a workplace with men. They may not drive.
	On 15 May 2011 King Abdullah opened the largest female university campus in the world. There has been progress on female education in recent years. In 2009 King Abdullah opened the Kingdoms first co-education university north of Jeddah. And the King Abdullah Scholarship Programme is educating tens of thousands of Saudi women at universities worldwide. While the number and quality of female universities continues to rise, many subjects are not deemed appropriate and are unavailable to women. Employment opportunities are still limited, and major challenges remain. Local elections will be held in September 2011, but despite promises made when the elections were held in 2005, women are again excluded from voting or standing as candidates.
	The Saudi Government have so far failed to remove the main institutional barriers to women, most notably the guardianship system. We continue to take every opportunity to urge the Saudi Government to remove the guardianship system of women, as the UK recommended at Saudi Arabia's Universal Periodic Review in February 2009. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, my honourable friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt) discussed human rights during his visit to Saudi Arabia on 26 and 27 April 2011, when he met the chair of the Governmental Saudi Human Rights Commission, Bandar Al Aiban.

Schools: Absenteeism

The Countess of Mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any records are kept of the numbers of children who are long-term absentees from school for medical reasons; and whether the medical condition is recorded.

Lord Hill of Oareford: The available information is shown in the table.
	The department collects information on the reason pupils are absent from school. Data on reasons includes illness (not medical or dental appointments) but the medical condition is not recorded. Information is collected on the total number of sessions for which a pupil is absent. It is not, however, known how many of these sessions are continuous.
	Further information on absence can be found in the Statistical First Release "Pupil Absence in Schools in England, Including Pupil Characteristics: 2009-10" which can be accessed at http://www.education.gov.uk/rsqateway/DB/SFR/s000994/index.shtml.
	
		
			 Maintained Primary, State-funded Secondary and Special Schools (1)(2)(3): Distribution of Enrolments by length of absence due to illness (not medical or dental appointments) 
			 2009-10 
			 England 
			  Maintained Primary Schools (1)   State-funded Secondary Schools (1)(2)   Special Schools (3)   Total   
			  Pupil enrolments in schools during 2009-10 (4)  Percentage of absence due to illness (5) Pupil enrolments in schools during 2009-10 (4)  Percentage of absence due to illness (5) Pupil enrolments in schools during 2009-10(4)  Percentage of absence due to illness (5) Pupil enrolments in schools during 2009-10 (4)  Percentage of absence due to illness (5) 
			  Number Percentage  Number Percentage  Number Percentage  Number Percentage  
			 Number of days absence due to illness: 
			 No Absence 568,090 16.84 0.00 451,135 15.37 0.00 19,155 24.30 0.00 1,038,385 16.26 0.00 
			 0.5 to 5 days 1,726,970 51.18 28.13 1,339,695 45.65 20.90 31,165 39.53 16.29 3,097,825 48.50 24.28 
			 5.5 to 10 days 679,290 20.13 32.09 643,850 21.94 28.87 13,620 17.27 20.83 1,336,755 20.93 30.29 
			 10.5 to 15 days 248,070 7.35 19.58 283,710 9.67 21.14 6,745 8.55 17.17 538,520 8.43 20.34 
			 15.5 to 20 days 93,030 2.76 10.30 120,185 4.10 12.53 3,390 4.30 12.11 216,605 3.39 11.46 
			 20.5 to 25 days 34,730 1.03 4.95 50,200 1.71 6.73 1,805 2.29 8.29 86,735 1.36 5.90 
			 more than 25 days 23,865 0.71 4.95 46,035 1.57 9.83 2,960 3.75 25.31 72,860 1.14 7.73 
			 Total 3,374,040 100.00 100.00 2,934,805 100.00 100.00 78,840 100.00 100.00 6,387,685 100.00 100.00 
		
	
	Source: School Census
	(1) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(2) Includes maintained secondary schools, city technology colleges and academies (including all-through academies).
	(3) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital schools.
	(4) Number of pupil enrolments in schools from start of the school year up until 28 May 2010. Includes pupils on the school roll for at least one session who are aged between 5 and 15, excluding boarders. Some pupils may be counted more than once (if they moved schools during the school year or are registered in more than one school).
	(5) The number of sessions missed due to illness (not medical or dental appointments) in each band expressed as a percentage of the total number of sessions missed for this reason.
	Totals may not appear to equal the sum of the component parts because numbers have been rounded to the nearest 5.

Schools: Academies

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many academies offer private medical provision for their staff.

Lord Hill of Oareford: The Department for Education does not hold information on private medical provision for academies staff as it does not routinely collect information about employee benefits that academies may offer to their staff.
	As part of their freedoms to innovate and raise standards, academies are free to set their own pay and conditions for staff; and are not required to report these to the Department for Education or the Young People's Learning Agency. However the department is aware that some academies do provide private medical provision for their staff.

Schools: Exclusion

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: To ask Her Majesty's Government why they did not consult the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council about the replacement of school exclusion independent appeal panels before publishing The Importance of Teaching: The Schools White Paper 2010.

Lord Hill of Oareford: There is no requirement for the Government to consult arm's-length bodies before publishing a White Paper. The Schools White Paper: The Importance of Teaching was agreed by the Home Affairs Cabinet Committee prior to its publication. The Ministry of Justice, which is the sponsor Department for the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council, is represented on that Cabinet Committee.

Schools: Free Schools

Lord Whitty: To ask Her Majesty's Government what regulation or guidance has been issued by the Department for Education or Ofsted regarding catchment areas when free schools are proposed.

Lord Hill of Oareford: Guidance on How to open a free school is available on the Department for Education's website: www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/freeschools.
	That guidance sets out that free schools are required through their funding agreements to adopt practices and arrangements, which can include the use of catchment areas, that are consistent or in accordance with the school admissions code, the school admission appeals code and admissions law as it applies to maintained schools.

Schools: Pupil Premium

Lord Willis of Knaresborough: To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures are in place to evaluate the impact of the pupil premium in addressing the attainment gap between children from more and less affluent backgrounds.

Lord Hill of Oareford: The Government believe that schools are best placed to decide how to support their most deprived pupils and the pupil premium will be spent by them in ways that they judge to be most effective.
	It is important that we should monitor the impact of this additional investment, which will rise to £2.5 billion each year by 2014-15, and learn from those schools which are making the most effective use of it. From this year, performance tables will publish data showing the attainment gap between disadvantaged children and their more affluent peers for every school. The tables will show for each school the test or exam results for children who attract the pupil premium. They will allow us to compare results for these children with those of all other pupils in the school.
	From September 2012 we will require schools to publish online details of how they have used the pupil premium to ensure that parents and others are made fully aware of the progress and attainment of those pupils it covers.
	There is no evidence yet about how schools are choosing to spend their pupil premium, as it has only been available since April 2011. We will publish more information about what works to raise the attainment of deprived pupils in due course.
	We are also considering whether any further evaluation of the pupil premium is required and what form it might take.

Schools: Pupil Premium

Lord Willis of Knaresborough: To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures are in place to ensure that schools are using the pupil premium on measures which have been demonstrated to be effective in lowering the attainment gap between children from more and less affluent backgrounds.

Lord Hill of Oareford: We believe that schools are best placed to make decisions about how to use the Pupil Premium and they will be free to do so. To help inform those decisions we will share with schools evidence about what makes the most difference for pupils from deprived backgrounds, including, for example, intensive support in reading, writing and mathematics.
	It is important that schools should be accountable for how they have used their Pupil Premium funding. We will include new measures in the performance tables to capture the achievement of those pupils covered by the premium. From September 2012, we will also require schools to publish online details of how they have spent the Pupil Premium so that parents and others are fully aware of the progress and attainment of those pupils it covers.

Schools: Refurbishment

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many schools in each of the London Boroughs and the City of London were refurbished under the building Schools for the Future Programme in each year until the programme was stopped.

Lord Hill of Oareford: The table below sets out the number of schools in each of the London Boroughs that were refurbished or rebuilt under the Building Schools for the Future programme. Although the programme was stopped in July 2010, a number of projects continue to receive capital support. We have therefore included figures for projects completed each calendar year to April 2011.
	
		
			 London Borough 2006 2007 2008 2009 Jan- 5 July 2010 6 July-Dec 2010 Jan-April 2011 Total 
			 Barnet 1   1 
			 Brent  1  1 
			 Greenwich   11 2 
			 Hackney2 1 2  5 
			 Haringey  1  5 3 5 1 15 
			 Harrow  1  1 
			 Islington1 3   4 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames11 
			 Lambeth  1 2 25 
			 Lewisham2   1 3 
			 Newham 2 3  5 
			 Redbridge 1   1 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames  1  1 
			 Southwark 2  1  1 1 1 6 
			 Tower Hamlets1 1  1 3 
			 Waltham Forest   2  2   4 
			 Westminster3 1 1 2 7 
			 Total 2 2 6 17 16 15 7 65

Schools: Trips

Lord Pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce the administrative burdens associated with undertaking an outdoor school trip.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the bureaucracy for teachers in organising school trips.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice is available to support schools when organising a school trip abroad.

Lord Hill of Oareford: The Department for Education, with other parts of government, is working on a range of initiatives to develop a positive culture of sensible and proportionate risk management in schools. A number of these measures were recommended in Common Sense, Common Safety (HMG October 2010) and agreed by the Prime Minister. The department's summary response to the report appears on the department's website at http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/adminandfinance/healthandsafety.
	We will be issuing brief advice that will help school employers and staff to a clearer knowledge of what must be done for a reasonable and proportionate observance of the duty of care, both in school and during off-site visits, without imposing inappropriate burdens on schools proposing such visits. We will also be making available an optional generic consent form to last for the pupil's stay at a school, with an opt-out facility for individual visits. We will inform maintained schools that parental consent is not legally required for off-site activities during the normal school day. It is for schools to use their judgment as to whether consent should be sought from parents depending on the activity planned.
	Bureaucracy is an issue which many staff in schools are concerned about when planning off-site educational visits, and we have heeded their concerns. We have also taken into account research evidence which showed some teachers being discouraged by too much paperwork.

Sport: Sports Clubs

Lord Pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to further help local sports clubs find the funding they require to stay afloat.

Baroness Garden of Frognal: Through Whole Sport Plans, Sport England is investing £480 million through 46 national governing bodies over the next four years. The governing bodies work closely with their network of sports clubs to invest funding at a local level. In addition, the mass participation Olympic Legacy-Places People Play, will provide funding opportunities for sports clubs with £10 million for playing fields and £50 million for community sports facilities.

Syria

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the European Union's decision to impose a travel ban and a freeze of assets on members of the Government of Syria; and what impact this will have whilst it excludes President Assad.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The UK was heavily engaged in the European Union decision to impose a travel ban and assets freeze on 13 individuals in the Syrian regime who are responsible for the violence. On 13 May 2011 the Syrian Ambassador to London was told that if the violence does not stop immediately and all political prisoners released, the EU would take further measures including sanctions targeted at the highest levels of the government.

Syria

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Syria's Christian community has been subjected to attacks by protestors; and whether they will conduct and publish an appraisal of the recent attacks which have been made on the ancient churches throughout the Middle East.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We have not heard of any reports of Syria's Christian communities or churches being subjected to any form of attack during the recent protests. Reports from Syria suggest that in Horns, Aleppo and Damascus, young Muslims have offered to protect churches, providing security cordons around the buildings to prevent criminal acts.
	We are, however, aware of the difficulties faced by Christian minorities in the Middle East and other countries around the world. All of our Embassies and High Commissions have a responsibility to monitor and raise human rights in their host countries. Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff routinely raise our concerns with host governments and where possible they take action on individual cases and lobby for changes in discriminatory practices and laws.

Tata Steel

Lord Maples: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Department of Energy and Climate Change received any representations from Tata Steel about the costs of European Union and United Kingdom carbon legislation, before it announced the partial closure of its Scunthorpe steel plant; and whether they will publish any such representations from the company.

Lord Marland: Ministers and officials at the Department for Energy and Climate Change and across Government are in regular contact with Tata Steel, UK Steel and other industry bodies on a range of issues and receive representations from time to time on a range of issues. Last year DECC worked closely with the steel industry and other industries covered by the EU Emissions Trading System when negotiating the free allocation rules for Phase III (2013-20) of the system. These rules maintain significant free allocation for steel and other industries at risk of carbon leakage. Similarly the department is in regular contact with industry representatives on the current simplification of climate change agreements which offer significant tax discounts to the steel industry. The department will continue, working closely with BIS, to discuss the impact of current and future climate and energy legislation with the steel industry and other energy intensive industrial sectors.

Turkey

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will seek from the Government of Turkey figures for those arrested since 1 March 2011, stating how many have been charged with offences and how many are still in custody.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Government do not plan to seek these figures from the Turkish Government. We expect the Turkish Government to follow the highest standards of human rights and justice at all stages of police and judicial processes.

Turkey

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ascertain from the Government of Turkey the names of those disqualified from standing in this year's parliamentary elections, and the reasons for their disqualifications.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Turkish Supreme Election Board (YSK) publicly announced the final list of candidates for June's election on 18 April. It also announced the names of the 12 disqualified candidates and the reasons for their disqualifications. Seven of 12 disqualified candidates were backed by the BDP (Peace and Democracy Party), and were subsequently re-instated.

Turkey

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the recent arrests and disqualifications of previously elected persons contravene Turkey's obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights; and, if so, what action they will take.

Lord Howell of Guildford: Turkey is a party to the European Convention on Human Rights. Accordingly, individuals who consider that their rights under the Convention have been breached by Turkey may take their case to the European Court of Human Rights if there is no effective national assistance available to them. It would be inappropriate for the Government to comment on whether the actions of the Turkish Government breached the European Convention on Human Rights until judicial consideration of any such complaints had been completed. We expect the Turkish Government to follow the highest standards of justice and human rights at all stages of police and judicial processes. Our Embassy in Ankara will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Turkey

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made representations to the Government of Turkey following the report by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe that 57 journalists are in prison there.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Minister for Europe, my right honourable friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr Lidington) raised the issue of the arrests of journalists in Turkey in his meeting with Egemen Bagis, Minister for European Affairs and Chief Negotiator, on 31 March 2011.
	The EU made a statement on 10 March 2011 expressing its concerns about the number of imprisoned journalists in Turkey and urging Turkey to fulfil its commitments to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) on media freedom. The OSCE made a statement on 4 April 2011 following the publication of its report on the matter. No further representations have been made since by the Government.
	Our embassy in Ankara regularly raises issues relating to the freedom of the media in the context of wider discussions on human rights with its Turkish counterparts.

Turkey

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received any representations about the visit of the Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to Libya in December to receive the Al-Gaddafi International Prize for Human Rights.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Government have not received any representations about the visit of the Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to Libya in December to receive the Al-Gaddafi International Prize for Human Rights.

Turkey

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made representations to the Government of Turkey about the cases of the journalists Nedim Sener and Ahmet Sik presently under arrest.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Government have not made representations to the Government of Turkey about the cases of the journalists Nedim Sener and Ahmet Sik presently under arrest.
	Our embassy in Ankara regularly raises issues relating to freedom of the media in the context of wider discussions on human rights with its Turkish counterparts. The EU made a statement on 10 March 2011 expressing its concerns about the large number of imprisoned journalists in Turkey and urging Turkey to fulfil its Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) commitments on media freedom. The Government do not plan separate bilateral representations in addition to the EU statement.

Uganda

Lord Ashcroft: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether United Kingdom public funds directly or indirectly contributed to the purchase of a Gulfstream 550 by the Government of Uganda.

Baroness Verma: During the last Government's time in office, the Government of Uganda (GoU) bought a Gulfstream 550 for presidential flights in the Ugandan financial year 2008/09.
	The last Government provided Uganda with budget support; the coalition Government have recently reviewed our overall approach to providing budget support. We are implementing a shift towards targeted funding to important sectors, such as health and education, and reducing general budget support. Over the next four years, general budget support provided by the UK Government is set to decline by 43 per cent. Our budget support to Uganda will be consistent with this approach. Further details of DfID's programme in Uganda can be found on our website (http://www.dfid. gov.uk/where-we-work/africa-eastern--southern/uganda/).

UK Trade and Investment

Lord Hunt of Chesterton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to modify restrictions on government departments and agencies and to encourage them in performing their tasks to develop technological capacity in the United Kingdom private sector and to promote those developments in the United Kingdom and abroad.

Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint: The Government have set out a very clear ambition for the UK's trade and investment agenda. Trade and inward investment was one of the themes in the first phase of the Growth Review.
	Working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) is the government department that helps UK based businesses succeed in the global economy and assists overseas companies to bring their high-quality investment to the UK. UKTI's new Strategy, Britain Open for Business, launched in May 2011, sets out plans to provide practical support to exporters and inward investors over the next five years. Its purpose is to help our economy grow by boosting exports and encouraging foreign companies to invest in the UK.
	UKTI showcases UK strengths in sectors, including high technology sectors, where we have world-beating capability and this can pay big commercial dividends, particularly in the more challenging emerging markets. UKTI also uses its network of staff to compile overseas business opportunities. These are then publicised via an online Business Opportunities Service providing several hundred global sales leads every month-companies can sign up to receive online alert messages about particular markets or sectors.

UN Women

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the ability of UN Women, and its predecessor body UNIFEM, to contribute to the work of UN country teams.

Baroness Verma: The UK played an important role in the creation of UN Women; we now want the new agency to get off to the best possible start. The Government look forward to the agency presenting its Strategic Plan to the Executive Board in June. The plan will outline UN Women's operational priorities, including its approach to working with UN country teams. The Secretary of State and other Ministers discussed this with Michelle Bachelet, head of UN Women, when she visited the UK on 16-17 May.
	The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) performed poorly in the Multilateral Aid Review. We found it had a weak results culture and struggled to demonstrate delivery, including in working with UN Country teams. DFID is working closely with UN Women to ensure these shortcomings are addressed.

Unemployment

Lord Sharkey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the analysis by the TUC of the regional unemployment figures published on 18 May.

Lord Freud: A snapshot of the number of unfilled Jobcentre Plus vacancies will understate the opportunities available to benefit claimants because it misses the new vacancies that are coming up and being filled all the time, as well as vacancies available in the wider local labour market or advertised through other recruitment channels.
	However, the Government recognise that in many local communities across the country there remain pockets of entrenched worklessness made worse by benefit dependency and, in some cases, too narrow a base of private sector jobs. Only by tackling the deficit, reforming welfare, improving the competitiveness of the economy and encouraging the growth of new businesses will it be possible to achieve the lasting growth in wealth and jobs that these communities need.

Union Learning Fund

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Wilcox on 10 February (WA 88-90), what assessment they have made of the results of the Central Lancashire Business School survey on Union Learning Representatives' (ULR) activity, impact and organisation in which 54 per cent of respondents agreed that ULR activity had helped to close skills gaps; and whether the funding of £177,000 for the National Union of Journalists in 2009-10 to develop the skills of its ULRs to work with employers to encourage workers to participate in continuing professional development provided value for money.

Baroness Wilcox: The Central Lancashire Business School survey on Union Learning Representatives' (ULR) activity in England demonstrates the increasingly important role that ULRs play in the promotion of training and skills development in many workplaces. The Government consequently remain committed to supporting the work of ULRs and the Union Learning Fund in helping to drive up workforce skill levels and the important contribution they make to improving management-union relations in the workplace.
	The survey included responses from over 950 active ULRs, 78 per cent of whom reported that their activity increased the number of colleagues receiving training and 80 per cent of whom reported that their activity had helped workers with little prior experience of learning. Two thirds reported improved management-union dialogue and almost 60 per cent reported improved management-union relations. The survey also included responses from over 112 managers, 88 per cent of whom valued the contribution made by ULRs. Furthermore, almost 60 per cent believed that ULRs had helped raise basic skill levels as well as 54 per cent agreeing that ULR activity had helped to close skills gaps. A majority of managers also agreed that ULR activity had helped to improve management-union relationships. The survey's findings are all the more positive given the very challenging economic climate at the time.
	The funding of £177,000 for the National Union of Journalist's (NUJ) Union Learning Fund project in 2009-10 produced a wide range of positive outcomes, the vast majority of which were above the project's original outcome profile. Through increasing the skills of the union's network of learning representatives the project was able to provide opportunities for 848 learners to improve their own skills. This included 277 learners undertaking information, communication and technology courses to improve their computer skills, 137 learners accessing literacy and numeracy training to improve their basic skills and over 350 learners participating in continuing professional development to enhance their existing skill levels. The project also developed an on-line learning centre which provides a bespoke careers advice service for workers in the industry, offering quality information, advice and guidance on career development and opportunities. This enabled the project's ULRs to offer structured information, advice and guidance on learning and skills to over 2,300 learners over three times higher than the profiled target of 650.
	A key purpose of the funding awarded to the NUJ for this ULF project was to help develop the union's capacity to provide ongoing support on learning and skills development to workers in the sector by helping to pump prime initial activity. Since the end of this project the NUJ has continued the learning and skills work initiated by the project, including sustaining the on-line learning centre using its own resources.

Waste Management

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many representations they have received in response to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs waste review; and whether they will place a copy of the responses in the Library of the House.

Lord Henley: Defra Ministers and officials have held a number of meetings with stakeholders regarding the Government's Review of Waste Policy.
	The review's call for evidence received over 300 detailed responses from a mixture of local authorities, businesses, private individuals and civil society organisations, emphasising the diversity of local circumstances. These are already publicly available in the Defra Information Resource Centre.
	To support the review's call for evidence, Defra also hosted an interactive debate on its website, which received 374 published comments, and a short online survey which around 1,500 respondents completed.

Welfare Reform Bill

Lord Patel of Blackburn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that cancer sufferers will not be adversely affected by the proposals in the Welfare Reform Bill.

Lord Freud: The Welfare Reform Bill makes several changes to the benefits available to people with health conditions such as cancer.
	In relation to Employment and Support Allowance, the Welfare Reform Bill provides for a one year time limit for those claiming contributory employment and support allowance in the Work Related Activity Group. The time limit will come into effect in 2012.
	People with the most serious disabilities and health conditions, including many people with cancer, will not be subject to time limiting. People with the most severe disabilities or heath conditions are placed in the Support Group: this includes people who are terminally ill and people who are receiving certain types of chemotherapy. We have just amended legislation so that individuals awaiting or between courses of certain types of chemotherapy will also automatically be placed in the Support Group.
	Income-related ESA will still be available for an indefinite period to those who qualify, irrespective of which group they are in.
	We are required to commission five annual independent reviews of the work capability assessment, the process by which entitlement to employment and support allowance is determined. As part of his second independent review, Professor Harrington has asked Macmillan Cancer Support and other cancer charities to look into how the work capability assessment assesses people with cancer and to make recommendations for improvements. I look forward to receiving Macmillan and Professor Harrington's recommendations for improvements.
	The Welfare Reform Bill also provides for the replacement of disability living allowance for people of working age with a new personal independence payment, a new, more transparent benefit and objective assessment of individual need. This change will be introduced in 2013. The personal independence payment will provide automatic and immediate entitlement to people who have a progressive disease such as cancer, are terminally ill, and are not expected to live for more than six months.

Zimbabwe

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in the light of the warning by the United States to Zimbabwe that it could face international penalties if it helped Iran's nuclear programme, they have issued a similar caution; and in what terms.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We are aware of the United States of America approaching the Government of Zimbabwe to warn them that they could face further international penalties if they support Iran on its nuclear programme. The UK Government have not raised any such issues with the Government of Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe

Lord Chidgey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the Government of Zimbabwe along with international partners to allow international observation of their forthcoming election.

Lord Howell of Guildford: No date has been set for elections in Zimbabwe. Effective monitoring will be an important element of a credible poll. International observers require a formal invitation from the Government of Zimbabwe. The authorities are aware that the United Kingdom and international partners stand ready to participate in an international monitoring effort.